Carriers suitable for transporting a plurality of articles through a microwave heating zone are provided. Carriers as described herein may include an outer frame and upper and lower support structures vertically spaced from one another to provide a cargo volume into which the articles are loaded. At least a portion of the upper and/or lower support structures may be formed of an electrically conductive material. Additionally, the carrier may include removable article spacing members, such as vertical spacing members and dividers, that can be selectively inserted to adjust the size and/or shaper of the cargo volume. Carriers as described herein may be configured to receive a variety of different articles, including trays and pouches, and the articles may be loaded into the carrier in a nested or overlapping manner.

The invention relates to an apparatus for treating foodstuff containers by spraying with a biocide-containing treatment liquid in at least one treatment zone (Z1-Z4) equipped with spraying means (B) for spraying the containers, the apparatus further comprising transport means for transporting the containers through the treatment zones (Z1-Z4), at least one generator (G1) for producing a biocide solution, at least one heating device for heating the treatment liquid, lines for supplying the biocide solution from the generator (G1) to the treatment zones (Z1-Z4) and, optionally, to at least one further biocide consumer device (BV1, BV2), lines for supplying the treatment liquid to the treatment means (B), as well as valves (V1-V7), controllable metering devices and pumps required for controlling the liquid flows, characterized in that a) the apparatus comprises at least two generators (G1, G2) for producing the biocide solution, and b) the generators (G1, G2) are connected or connectable neither directly nor indirectly to one another, but via corresponding feed lines to all treatment zones (Z1-Z4) and to any further biocide consumer device (BV1, BV2); and a method for operating such an apparatus.

The invention relates to an apparatus for treating foodstuff containers by spraying with a biocide-containing treatment liquid in at least one treatment zone (Z1-Z4) equipped with spraying means (B) for spraying the containers, the apparatus further comprising transport means for transporting the containers through the treatment zones (Z1-Z4), at least one generator (G1) for producing a biocide solution, at least one heating device for heating the treatment liquid, lines for supplying the biocide solution from the generator (G1) to the treatment zones (Z1-Z4) and, optionally, to at least one further biocide consumer device (BV1, BV2), lines for supplying the treatment liquid to the treatment means (B), as well as valves (V1-V7), controllable metering devices and pumps required for controlling the liquid flows, characterized in that a) the apparatus comprises at least two generators (G1, G2) for producing the biocide solution, and b) the generators (G1, G2) are connected or connectable neither directly nor indirectly to one another, but via corresponding feed lines to all treatment zones (Z1-Z4) and to any further biocide consumer device (BV1, BV2); and a method for operating such an apparatus.

Embodiments herein include processing systems for food products and related methods. In an embodiment, a food processing system is included with a continuous processing channel divided into a come-up chamber, a main electromagnetic wave (such as microwave) heating chamber, and a cool-down chamber. The continuous processing channel can define at least two separate portions oriented for vertical product movement. In various embodiments, the come-up chamber, the main electromagnetic wave heating chamber, and the cool-down chamber are at least partially filled with liquid. The system can further include a product conveyor mechanism to convey food products to be processed continuously along a conveyance path passing from the come-up chamber through the main electromagnetic wave heating chamber and to the cool-down chamber. The system can further include an electromagnetic wave energy emitting apparatus configured to emit electromagnetic wave energy into the main heating chamber. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Method for operating a tunnel pasteuriser with a plurality of sequentially successive treatment zones, wherein containers with a product packed therein are transported by means of a conveying device through the treatment zones and are heated with treatment media having different actual media temperatures, are pasteurized and preferably then cooled again, wherein the actual media temperatures are detected by a control unit and compared with target media temperatures, and wherein heating and/or cooling devices are controlled based on the comparison, characterised in that during the treatment of the containers, initial values for an optimisation are formed from the actual media temperatures of the treatment zones, and the target media temperatures are determined by means of a prediction model for determining the expected degree of pasteurisation with the optimisation, such that at least a minimum degree of pasteurisation of the containers is achieved.

Method for operating a tunnel pasteuriser with a plurality of sequentially successive treatment zones, wherein containers with a product packed therein are transported by means of a conveying device through the treatment zones and are heated with treatment media having different actual media temperatures, are pasteurized and preferably then cooled again, wherein the actual media temperatures are detected by a control unit and compared with target media temperatures, and wherein heating and/or cooling devices are controlled based on the comparison, characterised in that during the treatment of the containers, initial values for an optimisation are formed from the actual media temperatures of the treatment zones, and the target media temperatures are determined by means of a prediction model for determining the expected degree of pasteurisation with the optimisation, such that at least a minimum degree of pasteurisation of the containers is achieved.

Apparatus and method for treating a product with steam. The apparatus includes a treatment tunnel having an entrance opening and an exit opening for introducing and discharging the product, respectively. The apparatus includes a transport unit for transporting the product from the entrance opening to the exit opening and a steam feed unit for feeding steam into the treatment tunnel. The apparatus includes one or more nozzles in communication with the steam feed unit arranged for directing a jet of steam at the product.

Apparatus and method for treating a product with steam. The apparatus includes a treatment tunnel having an entrance opening and an exit opening for introducing and discharging the product, respectively. The apparatus includes a transport unit for transporting the product from the entrance opening to the exit opening and a steam feed unit for feeding steam into the treatment tunnel. The apparatus includes one or more nozzles in communication with the steam feed unit arranged for directing a jet of steam at the product.

The invention relates to a system (1) and a method for pasteurizing foods packed in closed containers (2). The containers (2) are supplied with a processing liquid (11) in at least one heating zone (5,6), at least one pasteurization zone (7, 8), and at least one cooling zone (9, 10). In order to cool and heat the processing liquid (11) as needed, a coolant (23) is cooled by means of a heat pump (22) in a cooling circuit (20), and a heating medium (33) is heated by means of the heat pump (22) in a heating circuit via a respective heat exchanger (19, 30) in each case. In order to provide cooling energy, the cooled coolant (23) is introduced into a lower end region of a cold buffer store (24), and in order to provide heating energy the heated heating medium (33) is introduced into an upper end region of a heat buffer store (35).

The invention relates to a system (1) and a method for pasteurizing foods packed in closed containers (2). The containers (2) are supplied with a processing liquid (11) in at least one heating zone (5,6), at least one pasteurization zone (7, 8), and at least one cooling zone (9, 10). In order to cool and heat the processing liquid (11) as needed, a coolant (23) is cooled by means of a heat pump (22) in a cooling circuit (20), and a heating medium (33) is heated by means of the heat pump (22) in a heating circuit via a respective heat exchanger (19, 30) in each case. In order to provide cooling energy, the cooled coolant (23) is introduced into a lower end region of a cold buffer store (24), and in order to provide heating energy the heated heating medium (33) is introduced into an upper end region of a heat buffer store (35).