An apparatus and method to heat food in a sealed-closed package without having the package open during heating involves disposing a package in a chamber with fluid above atmospheric pressure to engage an exterior of the package with sufficient force to prevent the package from becoming unsealed. The package can include at least a portion that includes a microwave interactive material that interacts with the food during microwave energy exposure and can include areas that substantially reflect microwave energy at areas of the food susceptible to overheating or crisping. The fluid can be a gas, such as air.

The invention relates to a continuous sterilizing system comprising a sterilizing body into which a thermal fluid is introduced for sterilizing products, the products to be sterilized being arranged in containers that circulate inside the sterilizing body, said sterilizing body being divided into different sterilization zones by means of dividing walls, and each of said dividing walls having a through-opening that is substantially the same shape as a container, such that the containers close the through-openings of the dividing walls, rendering the sterilization zones thermally isolated from one another.

Apparatus and methods for bulk processing items on a conveyor belt using an angled axial fan that extends obliquely into a processing chamber that performs a pasteurization or other process on the conveyed items. The angled axial fan enhances air flow around a product being processed on the conveyor belt.

Apparatus and methods for bulk processing items on a conveyor belt using an angled axial fan that extends obliquely into a processing chamber that performs a pasteurization or other process on the conveyed items. The angled axial fan enhances air flow around a product being processed on the conveyor belt.

The invention relates to a thermal treatment device, such as a pasteurizer, cooler or heater, having at least one container feed device for feeding containers each to one mass flow conveyor comprised by the thermal treatment device. The treatment device adjoins the at least one container feed device. The container feed device comprises: an at least one-track infeed conveyor; a first group of a plurality of parallel first conveyors; a second group of a plurality of parallel second conveyors which are arranged so as to be parallel and adjoining the first group. The containers can be transferred from the second group to a mass flow conveyor transversely to the second direction, in the direction. The invention furthermore relates to a method for operating the thermal treatment device with the at least one container feed device.

The invention relates to a thermal treatment device, such as a pasteurizer, cooler or heater, having at least one container feed device for feeding containers each to one mass flow conveyor comprised by the thermal treatment device. The treatment device adjoins the at least one container feed device. The container feed device comprises: an at least one-track infeed conveyor; a first group of a plurality of parallel first conveyors; a second group of a plurality of parallel second conveyors which are arranged so as to be parallel and adjoining the first group. The containers can be transferred from the second group to a mass flow conveyor transversely to the second direction, in the direction. The invention furthermore relates to a method for operating the thermal treatment device with the at least one container feed device.

A palletizing device of container packs, being of a sliding table type, including a structure and a loading surface of the packs with side-by-side parallel rollers mounted on mobile frames with a freely rotation, with two side parts movable from a closed position to an opened position, and reversely, wherein when a locking system of the rollers with a locking means with a cart with a locker mobile from a folded position to an unfolded position, and reversely, is in the unfolded position, the locker is blocking the freely rotation of the rollers, and the locking system has a fixed locking actuator cooperating with the locking actuator to move the locker from the folded position to the unfolded position to lock the rollers of the two sides parts during the movement from the closed to the opened position.

A palletizing device of container packs, being of a sliding table type, including a structure and a loading surface of the packs with side-by-side parallel rollers mounted on mobile frames with a freely rotation, with two side parts movable from a closed position to an opened position, and reversely, wherein when a locking system of the rollers with a locking means with a cart with a locker mobile from a folded position to an unfolded position, and reversely, is in the unfolded position, the locker is blocking the freely rotation of the rollers, and the locking system has a fixed locking actuator cooperating with the locking actuator to move the locker from the folded position to the unfolded position to lock the rollers of the two sides parts during the movement from the closed to the opened position.

A microwave pasteurization facility for pasteurizing food products contained in packages that are hermetically sealed by an impermeable film, the facility including at least: - a microwave cavity; - a conveyor line conveying the packages through the microwave cavity; - at least one microwave generator designed to generate and propagate through the microwave cavity microwave radiation that heats the food products on the conveyor line; - a ventilation cooling system that injects cold air into the microwave cavity by means of at least one air distribution plenum transparent to the microwaves which extends continuously inside the microwave cavity, along and above the conveyor line, and is provided with holes for distributing air along and opposite the conveyor line.

A microwave pasteurization facility for pasteurizing food products contained in packages that are hermetically sealed by an impermeable film, the facility including at least: - a microwave cavity; - a conveyor line conveying the packages through the microwave cavity; - at least one microwave generator designed to generate and propagate through the microwave cavity microwave radiation that heats the food products on the conveyor line; - a ventilation cooling system that injects cold air into the microwave cavity by means of at least one air distribution plenum transparent to the microwaves which extends continuously inside the microwave cavity, along and above the conveyor line, and is provided with holes for distributing air along and opposite the conveyor line.