Abstract: A meat product pasteurizer (20) includes a first conveyor (21) transporting an already-cooked and packaged meat product (22) to a loading station (24), a pasteurizing processing chamber (26) including a fluid media heating zone (28), a void zone (30), and a fluid media chilling zone (32), a second conveyor (60) transporting the meat product (22) from the loading station (24) through the heating zone (28), then through the void zone (30), then through the chilling zone (32) to an unloading station (62), a third conveyor (64) transporting the meat product (22) from the unloading station (62) to a blow-off station (66) for removing surface fluid from the packaged meat product (22).

Abstract: A food processing system (20) includes a plurality of openable and closeable food product molds (32, 34) carried by a continuous serpentine conveyor (24) through a processing chamber (22) from a loading station (28) to an unloading station (30) and then returned by the conveyor from the unloading station to the loading station. An automatic mold opener (62) opens the mold at the unloading station. An automatic mold closer (64) closes the mold at the loading station, eliminating mold handling and storage by operating personnel.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing method and apparatus has a system with new individual dispensing heads connectible one each to a plurality of different liquid bottles, i.e. liquor, and a remote dispensing data receiver and computer that receives data from each head. Each head has structure for being secured to a bottle, a liquid bore and an air vent, and one or more of the following features and functions: an electronic dispensing timer, a stop pour annunciator, a magnetically latched dispensing control valve, an electronic bottle lock a radio transmitter and antenna, an electronic fractional pour annunciator, programmable dispensing control, a micro-processor computer, a data storage, a data I/O structure, and structure and function for uniquely electrically identifying each head and liquid.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing method and apparatus has a system with new individual dispensing heads connectible one each to a plurality of different liquid bottles, i.e. liquor, and a remote dispensing data receiver and computer that receives data from each head. Each head has structure for being secured to a bottle, a liquid bore and an air vent, and one or more of the following features and functions: an electronic dispensing timer, a stop pour annunciator, a magnetically latched dispensing control valve, an electronic bottle lock, a radio transmitter and antenna, an electronic fractional pour annunciator, programmable dispensing control, a micro-processor computer, a data storage, a data I/O structure, and structure and function for uniquely electrically identifying each head and liquid.

Abstract: A food product processing transport system (300) includes an overhead transport rail (302) having first and second runs (356 and 358, 390 and 392), a food product carrier (310) suspended from the rail and defining a vertical plane, a drive mechanism (326) for advancing the carrier along the rail, and a turning arrangement (354, 394) between the first and second runs and changing the relative orientation between the vertical plane defined by the carrier and the direction of advancement of the carrier. The carrier includes a slider block (312) slidable along the rail.

Abstract: A controller for a beverage tap has a base with a fastener for attaching the base to the beverage tap. A pneumatically-operated cylinder is mounted on the base and has a piston which when the cylinder is pressurized forces a lever of the tap into an open position. A cover releasably extends around five sides of the base and encloses the cylinder. A torsion spring is attached inside the cover to bias the lever into a closed position when the cylinder is not pressurized. A plurality of push button switches are mounted on the cover for operating the controller. A first electrical connector is attached to the base and has two guides that have conical apertures. A second electrical connector is movably attached to the cover, and includes two pins located within apertures of the two guides. The first and second electrical connectors have contacts formed by a pair of tines. Each pair of tines of one electrical connector slide in between and mesh perpendicularly with a pair of tines of the other electrical connector.

Abstract: A top unloading milking claw (10) includes a high-impact transparent plastic lower bowl (12) and a stainless steel upper top (14). The claw has a plurality of deflectors (50, 52, 54, 56) on the inner surface (48) of the lower bowl (12) and spaced radially outwardly of the vertical riser outlet tube (28) by an annular gap (58) therebetween. The deflectors (50, 52, 54, 56) reduce tangential velocity of milk flow along the inner surface (48) of the bowl (12) by intercepting such tangential milk flow and redirecting the intercepted milk flow inwardly and downwardly along the inner surface (48) toward the bottom of the bowl (12) to fill the space (38) between the lower end (36) of the outlet tube (28) and the bottom of the bowl (12), to maximize the air pressure differential across the surface of the milk, between the ambient air pressure within the claw and the vacuum within the outlet tube, to maximize milk flow capacity of the claw ( 10).

Abstract: A food processing system (100) includes a food processing chamber (102) for processing a food product, a serpentine conveyor (104) having a plurality of parallel flights connected at their ends by U-shaped bends, and a recirculation system for supplying a processing medium to the chamber and recirculating the processing medium along a closed-loop unidirectional recirculation path having a supply path portion (106) along and parallel to a first set of flights (108), and a return path portion (110) along and parallel to a second set of flights (112). A blower (114) has a high pressure supply side (116) supplying the processing medium to the supply path portion, and a low pressure return side (118) drawing the processing medium from the return path portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a food product. A series of processing cabinets are each provided with an inlet and an outlet in one of the cabinet side walls adjacent an end wall. The product is carried by a series of individual product carriers, which are capable of turning relative to the rail. The carriers pass through the cabinet inlets, and are turned relative to the rail thereafter so as to pass through the cabinets in a closely packed arrangement. As the carriers approach the opposite end wall of the cabinet, the carriers are again turned so as to exit the cabinet in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cabinet.

Abstract: A milking system uses a variable pressure source and varies the pressure supplied to the pulsation chamber along a controllably variable pressure curve of selectable waveshape. Pulsation cycles are shortened by shortening the transition time between pressure levels providing on and off portions of the pulsation cycle. The pulsation chamber is sequenced through different pressure change rates, all during the transition.

Abstract: A herringbone-type milking parlor of the type in which the cow is milked from the side utilizes a rotating gate that moves from a horizontal exit position to a vertical position to urge the cow to exit from the milking stall. The gate stays in this position until a new cow has moved into the milking stall, at which time the gate indexes back to a position short of vertical to engage the brisket of the cow and move it gently back towards the rump rail and into a proper milking position.

Abstract: A livestock sorting system (10) is provided with an entrance (11) having an identification sensor (13-15) for identifying designated livestock passing therethrough, and first and second aisles (18, 20) extending from the entrance. A gate (52) has a first position (FIG. 2) providing communication of the entrance with the first aisle, and a second position (FIG. 3) providing communication of the entrance with the second aisle. An automatic control actuates the gate between the first and second positions in response to the identification sensor.

Abstract: A milking system combines the use of a thin-walled non-distensible floppy liner (82) with the application of positive pressure during the off portion of the milking cycle, and overcomes prior problems of congestion, oedema, hyperkeratosis, and slow milking. In a further aspect, the thin-walled floppy liner is operated as a pressure switch limiting the amount of negative pressure applied to the lower tip of the teat (16). In a further aspect, cross-contamination from another teat through the milking claw (36) is reduced by minimizing volume change within the liner (82) below the teat (16) during milking.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for continuously removing particles from a flowing liquid and recovering them. In particular, the disclosed preferred embodiment is an application of the invention for the purpose of recovering curd particles from whey in the process of making cheese. The device employs a perforated conduit nested within the conduit bearing the flowing liquid. The liquid passes to the interior of the perforated conduit, leaving the particles moving in a slurry along the outer surface of the perforated conduit. The particle laden slurry encounters a barrier which diverts the flow into a particle recovery pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a food product. A series of processing cabinets are each provided with an inlet and an outlet in one of the cabinet side walls adjacent an end wall. The product is carried by a series of individual product carriers, which are capable of turning relative to the rail. The carriers pass through the cabinet inlets, and are turned relative to the rail thereafter so as to pass through the cabinets in a closely packed arrangement. As the carriers approach the opposite end wall of the cabinet, the carriers are again turned so as to exit the cabinet in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cabinet.

Abstract: A flexible formed pre-curved milk tube (50) extends outwardly from a milking claw inlet (26) and naturally curves upwardly to a teat cup (20), minimizing stress otherwise occurring in a straight milking tube (40), such that the pre-curved tube (50) maintains increased clearance (52) between the pre-curved tube and the claw inlet opening (44) to maximize the inner cross sectional area of the tube and create less restriction to flow as compared to the reduced clearance (46) caused by stressing a straight tube (40) to a curved connected condition. Rotation of the pre-curved tube (50) from the unstressed position to a downward non-milking position provides a greater range of motion than a straight tube (40), which greater range of motion provides a better shut-off seal.

Abstract: A new teat cup inflation comprises a flexible tubular member having upper and lower barrels and a mouthpiece chamber. The walls of the upper and lower barrels are formed as continuous bands of alternating internal and external flutes. The lower end of the lower barrel is formed with an external projection that is received in a groove in a teat cup shell. The wall of the inflation upper barrel diverges from the lower barrel toward the mouthpiece chamber. The wall of a portion of the mouthpiece chamber is fluted on the interior and has a frusto-conical surface on the exterior. The mouthpiece chamber further has a band portion that receives a retaining ring for assembling the inflation in the teat cup without tools and without stressing the inflation mouthpiece after assembly. The new inflation provides better control for teat penetration for improved milkout.

Abstract: A system for intermittently advancing floor-supported vehicles through a food product processing system employs beam members mounted adjacent the floor which are reciprocably movable back and forth, preferably in response to extension and retraction of the rod of a cylinder. Engagement members, preferably in the form of upstanding trip dogs provided on the beams, engage the underside of the vehicles for drawing the vehicles through the cabinets of the processing system. A system is provided for transferring the vehicles from one walking beam assembly to another.

Abstract: Efficient dehumidification is provided by directing air flow through a coil (30, 60) to cool the air below the dew point such that water vapor in the air is condensed to liquid to dehumidify the air, and then directing air flow through the coil to heat the air to a temperature below the incoming air to the coil and above the dew point of the air. Air flow is directed along a first set of coil sections (42, 64) giving up heat to refrigerant in the first set of coil sections to evaporate refrigerant in the first set of coil sections, and then directing the air flow along a second set of coil sections (44, 66) absorbing heat from refrigerant in the second set of coil sections to condense refrigerant in the second set of coil sections. The coil sections are connected to alternately evaporate and condense refrigerant in the coil differentially such that less refrigerant is condensed in condensing coil sections than is evaporated in evaporating coil sections.

Abstract: A food product press includes a vertically disposed array of interleaved pairs of product carrying shelves and compression shelves, between each pair of which food products, such as hams, may be compressed for processing. The product shelves are fixed and the compression shelves are movable as a group with respect thereto and may be set and held at any desired spacing or with any selected compression of the products. The press is manually operable by a single operator and is readily disassembleable for cleaning or modified use.