A food processing apparatus includes a pressure vessel defining a compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, an open-top screen mounted within the compartment and movable relative to the compartment between a first position, for food processing, and a second position, to facilitate cleaning, a rotatable auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen, the auger being operable to advance food product within the compartment from the inlet end of the pressure vessel toward the outlet end, and a transfer mechanism including a conduit in communication with the compartment, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge and operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move food product through the conduit.

A food processing apparatus includes a pressure vessel defining a compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, an open-top screen mounted within the compartment and movable relative to the compartment between a first position, for food processing, and a second position, to facilitate cleaning, a rotatable auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen, the auger being operable to advance food product within the compartment from the inlet end of the pressure vessel toward the outlet end, and a transfer mechanism including a conduit in communication with the compartment, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge and operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move food product through the conduit.

A food processing apparatus including a tank having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, the tank having a rotatable auger mounted in a compartment, the auger for advancing food product within the compartment from the inlet end toward the outlet end, the auger including flights having a flight wall with a radial edge, a clearance space being defined between the radial edge of the flights and a solid, imperforate wall portion of an inner wall. One of the inner wall and the flight wall may include a perforated wall portion. A transition zone includes a moveable surface to contain food product while in use.

A food processing apparatus including a tank having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, the tank having a rotatable auger mounted in a compartment, the auger for advancing food product within the compartment from the inlet end toward the outlet end, the auger including flights having a flight wall with a radial edge, a clearance space being defined between the radial edge of the flights and a solid, imperforate wall portion of an inner wall. One of the inner wall and the flight wall may include a perforated wall portion. A transition zone includes a moveable surface to contain food product while in use.

A vacuum steam blancher using a full-automatic conveyor belt includes a blanching chamber, a pressure casing, a second vacuum pipe; and an automatic control system. The automatic control system is configured to control a steam generation system, a vacuum system, a drainage system and a material conveyor. Steam is introduced to continuously blanch materials. The vacuum steam blancher has a simple structure and reasonable design, and is easily integrated with a production line. Compared to the existing vacuum pulsed blancher that is intermittent and semi-automatic, the vacuum steam blancher of the present application realizes continuous production to meet the needs of the industrialized production.

A vacuum steam blancher using a full-automatic conveyor belt includes a blanching chamber, a pressure casing, a second vacuum pipe; and an automatic control system. The automatic control system is configured to control a steam generation system, a vacuum system, a drainage system and a material conveyor. Steam is introduced to continuously blanch materials. The vacuum steam blancher has a simple structure and reasonable design, and is easily integrated with a production line. Compared to the existing vacuum pulsed blancher that is intermittent and semi-automatic, the vacuum steam blancher of the present application realizes continuous production to meet the needs of the industrialized production.

A method and apparatus for changing all or part of the skinsheet of a rotary drum blancher/cooler from being clean in place totally removable is disclosed. The drum includes the skinsheet (in sections) with a plurality of clamps and catches. Each catch is comprised of two catches—a clean in place catch and a totally removable catch. Each clamp is attached to a section and has an clamping position and a release position, and includes a bail. When a clamp is in the clamping position and its bail is in either the clean in place catch or the totally removable catch of a corresponding catch on an adjacent second section, the catch and clamp hold the adjacent sections together to form a part of the drum. When the clamp is in the release position and the bail is in the clean in place catch of the adjacent section, the clamp and clean in place catch allow adjacent sections to separate, but do not allow them to be removed.

A method and apparatus for changing all or part of the skinsheet of a rotary drum blancher/cooler from being clean in place totally removable is disclosed. The drum includes the skinsheet (in sections) with a plurality of clamps and catches. Each catch is comprised of two catches—a clean in place catch and a totally removable catch. Each clamp is attached to a section and has an clamping position and a release position, and includes a bail. When a clamp is in the clamping position and its bail is in either the clean in place catch or the totally removable catch of a corresponding catch on an adjacent second section, the catch and clamp hold the adjacent sections together to form a part of the drum. When the clamp is in the release position and the bail is in the clean in place catch of the adjacent section, the clamp and clean in place catch allow adjacent sections to separate, but do not allow them to be removed.

A vacuum steam blancher using a full-automatic conveyor belt includes a blanching chamber, a pressure casing, a second vacuum pipe; and an automatic control system. The automatic control system is configured to control a steam generation system, a vacuum system, a drainage system and a material conveyor. Steam is introduced to continuously blanch materials. The vacuum steam blancher has a simple structure and reasonable design, and is easily integrated with a production line. Compared to the existing vacuum pulsed blancher that is intermittent and semi-automatic, the vacuum steam blancher of the present application realizes continuous production to meet the needs of the industrialized production.

A vacuum steam blancher using a full-automatic conveyor belt includes a blanching chamber, a pressure casing, a second vacuum pipe; and an automatic control system. The automatic control system is configured to control a steam generation system, a vacuum system, a drainage system and a material conveyor. Steam is introduced to continuously blanch materials. The vacuum steam blancher has a simple structure and reasonable design, and is easily integrated with a production line. Compared to the existing vacuum pulsed blancher that is intermittent and semi-automatic, the vacuum steam blancher of the present application realizes continuous production to meet the needs of the industrialized production.