Abstract: A plant for pasteurizing an egg-containing food product comprises a heating section (3) for heating the product to a first operating temperature (T1) above 5O0C1 an overheating station (4) for overheating the product to a second operating temperature (T2) higher than the first operating temperature (T1), oscillating means (18) for generating a radio-frequency electromagnetic field in the overheating station (4), at least one conduit (6) having an inlet (2) and an outlet (5) and at least a connecting portion (16) for connecting together said heating section (3) and said overheating station (4), at least one first thermal holding station (15) in said intermediate portion (16), means (8) for circulating the product in said conduit (6). The circulating means (8) are adapted to circulate the product in said overheating station (4) at a second operating speed (V2) in a substantially turbulent regime for a maximum operating time (t2) of 0.

Abstract: A method for the continuous wet stretching of industrial hides and other similar products comprises the following steps: a) removal of uniformly wetted hides following a treatment with liquids, such as tanning, re-tanning or the like, b) partial pre-drying of the wetted hides so as to reduce their residual relative moisture to a value of between 35% and 65%, c) stretching of the moist hides by means of localized mechanical stresses applied in directions which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of lie of the hides so as to achieve a predetermined increase in surface area, d) drying of the stretched hides until they have a residual relative moisture of between 7% and 30% so as to stabilize and thermally fix the stretched hides. The hides are kept in substantially constant relative humidity conditions with the mechanical stresses distributed uniformly over the entire surface area of the hides.

Abstract: A vacuum apparatus for industrial hide driers with multiple beds (2) includes a circuit with an open end (17) having arranged in a series: a vapor manifold (7) for each bed; a first condenser (8) inserted in each manifold; a first condensate separator (10) at the output of the various condensers (8); a main vacuum pump (16) to gradually reduce the absolute pressure in the circuit to a first upper value (Ps). A particular feature of the system consists of the fact that it has a secondary aspiration device (19) which is arranged upstream of the main vacuum pump (16) to operate in series to this pump when the first value of the absolute pressure (Ps) is reached, so as to further reduce the pressure of the circuit to a second lower value (Pi). The upper value (Ps) of the absolute pressure is 40 to 100 mbar; the second lower value (P1) of the absolute pressure is 15 to 1 mbar. The device (19) is a high-capacity, low-head blower.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stabilized vacuum apparatus for industrial hide driers with multiple evaporation beds. The apparatus includes a main vacuum source that can be connected to a series of evaporation beds to produce a negative pressure having a preset value in the beds, in steady-state operating conditions. There is a secondary vacuum source which is suitable to produce, in one bed at a time, a negative pressure which is close to the steady-state value, and there is a valve means to selectively connect each bed, which is initially at ambient pressure, first to the secondary vacuum source and then to the main vacuum source, so as to eliminate substantial pressure variations in the remaining beds when each bed is connected to the main vacuum source.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the continuous sterilization of a non-packaged biological liquid, particularly milk and its byproducts, containing bacterial and sporal loads, including the steps of a) gradually preheating the liquid to a preheating temperature proximate to a maximum temperature of the process; b) irradiating the liquid with an electromagnetic field with a frequency of less than 1 GHz so as to heat the product to the maximum temperature of the process; and c) rapidly cooling the liquid to a temperature of approximately 15.degree. before packaging. The preheating temperature attained during the preheating step a) is between 90.degree. C. and 140.degree. C. and the maximum temperature reached during the irradiation step b) is about 165.degree. C. with a thermal gradient between about 0.1.degree. C./s and 10.degree. C./s, so as to provide a high temperature heating of the liquid while preventing destruction or alteration of the active principles and organoleptic properties of the liquid.

Abstract: A device for automatically adjusting the staking pressure in staking machines with beating plates, wherein the machine includes at least one fixed plate (5) and at least one moving plate (4) which face each other and are provided with complementarily shaped tools; the fixed plate (5) is installed on threaded posts (11) which can be screwed in complementarily threaded bushes (12) which are rigidly coupled to a bed (3); there are locking devices (13) which act selectively on the fixed plate (5).

Abstract: A line for the semiautomatic feeding of industrial hides, particularly for setting-out/drying machines and vacuum driers, includes a loading/unloading device (5, 5') that lies between the unloading section of the setting-out/drying machine (2) and the drying tables (3') of the vacuum drier (3); the device (5, 5') can be actuated on command after spreading the hides (P, P') on each table of the vacuum drier. The loading/unloading device (5, 5') has at least one movable surface (8, 8') and has a translatory direction (V) that lies substantially at right angles to the main dimension of the tables (8) of the vacuum drier (3). The loading/unloading device (5, 5') is of the type with a movable conveyor belt (6) with an unloading end (7) that can be superimposed on the tables of the vacuum drier (3). It is possible to provide a conveyor belt (12) that is interposed between the vacuum drier (3) and an optional percher (4) that is aligned with it.

Abstract: A roller press for surface impregnating leather and similar materials, includes a load-bearing structure (2) which supports an upper impregnating roller (8), a lower drive roller (9), and a pair of conveyor belts (5 and 6) placed one above the other which turn in the same direction and partly touch each other so as to forward feed the leather (P) to be impregnated. The rollers are approximately parallel to each other and spaced apart so as to create a converging/diverging channel (10) between them, having the minimum section (11) approximately equal in height to the thickness of the leather being worked. There is a pressing member (20) arranged immediately upstream of the minimum section (11) which acts flexibly and uniformly over the entire width of the leather so as to keep it in stable contact with the lower drive roller (9) and preventing it from rolling up.

Abstract: A method for softening and stretching tanned hides, in a substantially manner, by applying on both sides of the hides opposite and reciprocating forces with a predetermined stroke which are substantially perpendicular to the surfaces of the hides, such forces being applied, on one side of the hides, by means of rigid elements acting on mutually spaced portions of the work area and, on the other side, by means of an elastically yielding planar uniform support acting on the entire work area. The rigid elements have active dome shaped portions with a radius of curvature which is greater than the stroke of application of the opposite forces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum drying machine with multiple tables for drying industrial hides and similar products, including a fixed supporting frame which supports a plurality of controllably vertically movable horizontal work tables. Each of the tables has, on its upper face, a supporting and heating plate for supporting and heating the hides and, on its lower face, a closing cover which can sealingly engage the upper face of the underlying table so as to define a vacuum drying chamber. An intermediate supporting structure is provided so as to be vertically movable inside the fixed supporting frame. The tables are vertically movable in the intermediate supporting structure so as to move telescopingly with respect to the fixed supporting frame.