Method for determining the temperature of products transported on the conveyor belt of a cryogenic tunnel, comprising the following steps: —continuously measuring the surface temperature of products travelling on the conveyor belt; —measuring the thickness of a product at the point where the temperature measurement is taken; —performing the following evaluation: a. when the thickness of the product is within a certain range, then the temperature measured for said product is considered to be a reliable value; b. when the thickness of the product is outside the range, then the last temperature value of the measured product is considered to be a reliable value according to paragraph a) above; c. after a determined period of time during which the measured thickness is outside the range, it is concluded that there are no products on the conveyor belt and the temperature measurements are no longer taken into account.

Disclosed is a system for providing a desired amount of cooling to a quantity of non-liquid conveyable product in a vessel within a given length of residence time in the vessel, comprising:

(A) continuously feeding a mass of non-liquid conveyable product into a vessel, through the interior of the vessel, and out of the vessel, at a rate that provides a given predetermined length of residence time within the interior of the vessel, wherein the non-liquid conveyable product is moved through the interior of the vessel by engagement thereof with an impeller that is positioned in the interior of the vessel; and (B) feeding cryogen out of a plurality of nozzle openings directly into or onto the non-liquid conveyable product in the interior of the vessel while the impeller is moving the non-liquid conveyable product continuously past the nozzle openings, wherein the cryogen is fed into said non-liquid conveyable product from a sufficient number of said nozzle openings to provide the desired amount of cooling to the non-liquid conveyable product within the given period of residence time in the vessel, and wherein the flow of cryogen out of each nozzle opening is continuous or intermittent.

A horizontal axis rotary separation apparatus is deployed in a process for separating resinous trichomes rich in flavoring, aromatic and/or medicinal components produced in plant trichome glands from unwanted plant matter. The process physically separates resin rich beads at the trichome gland head from extraneous plant matter by one or move separation sieves. The sieves are provided in or as a casing over a rigid frame member. The sieves are mesh fabric bags or screen that are easily opened and replenished in a batch operating mode, and are removable from the frame for cleaning and maintenance. Other aspects of the invention include processes that improve process efficiency and speed, and yield products of superior quality.

A food process line and method are provided for processing food in a food process line. The food process line includes at least two of the following process line stations: a food preparation station, cold store, pump station or forming station for a pumpable food mass, or a dry coater, wet coating device, fryer, heater or freezer for the discrete food products. In each process line station at least one process step is carried out, the process line station having one or more actuators and/or one or more sensors. The food process line comprises an interstation control system configured to control an actuator of a first process line station on the basis of data from a sensor of a second process line station.

A frying unit, comprising an oil pan (1) which is essentially open on top, a transport unit (2), using which a basket (3) is movable from a filling position into the interior of the oil pan (1) and using which the basket (3) is movable from the interior of the oil pan (1) into an emptying position, wherein the oil pan (1) is designed in such a way that it can accommodate multiple baskets (3) simultaneously, and the transport unit (2) is designed in such a way that the baskets (3) are movable independently of one another.

A food processing system is provided with: a heating unit equipped with a heating mechanism for indirectly heating food; a cooling unit equipped with an air blowing cooler for cooling the food heated by the heating unit; and a conveyor for transferring the food through the heating unit and the cooling unit. The integrated food processing system allows a large amount of sterilized food having a good texture, good taste and long shelf life to be provided.

A cooler including a compartment, a conduit including a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, food product at a first product temperature entering the first end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with and for supplying fluid through the fluid discharge, the fluid being at a first fluid temperature less than the first product temperature, the pressurized fluid source being operable to propel the fluid through the fluid discharge to move the food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion and to cool the food product to a temperature below the first product temperature.

Disclosed is an automatic immersion ice-coating machine, including a frame, an ice-coating working pool, a feed port, a conveying device, a control system and a driving system. A first side of the ice-coating working pool communicates with a buffer tank. A bottom of the ice-coating working pool is stepped or inclined, and a drain valve is provided at a bottom of the ice-coating working pool. The conveying device includes a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt. The first conveyor belt is located under the feed port, and a lower portion of the first conveyor belt is lower than the liquid level, and the second conveyor belt communicates with the discharge port. The first and second conveyor belts are made of stainless steel mesh belts, and surfaces of the stainless steel mesh belts are provided with separators in a spaced manner.

Apparatus and method for treatment of a particulate material employs a conveyor belt for supporting the particulate material for transport and a source of gas for delivery through the conveyor belt to fluidize the particulate material. A gas distribution system is used for controlling the gas flow to create regions of greater and lesser fluidization. This approach avoids the use of mechanical agitation of the conveyor belt which improves efficiency and reliability. The apparatus and method find particular application in the handling of particulate foodstuffs in bulk when treatment such as freezing, heating, or blanching of individual food particles is required.

A device for controlling the temperature of foods along a conveying path includes a buffer unit arranged in a region between a loading station and an unloading station. The buffer unit has at least two deflecting rollers. A first deflecting roller engages, in a first portion of a conveying device, in a continuous conveying chain, continuous conveying belt, or the like, which moves from the loading station toward the unloading station when driven. A second deflecting roller engages, in a second portion of a conveying device, in the continuous conveying chain, continuous conveying belt, or the like, which moves from the unloading station toward the loading station when driven. The first drive unit is coupled in the region of the loading station and a second drive unit is coupled in the region of the unloading station to the continuous conveying chain, continuous conveying belt, or the like.