Abstract: In the apparatus and method of the present invention, the inner pressure of the cooling chamber is maintained at a level higher than the inner pressure of the heating and sterilizing chamber connected to the cooling chamber via a sealing gate by 0.05-0.3 Kg/cm.sup.2, more preferably, 0.1-0.2 Kg/cm.sup.2. Accordingly, when the sealing gate is opened to advance the food from the heating and sterilizing chamber to the cooling chamber, any pressure drop will not occur at the heating and sterilizing chamber side of the sealing gate, so that the re-boiling phenomenon is avoidable.

Abstract: In the apparatus and method of the present invention, the solid food to be sterilized is exposed to the steam so that the steam flow directly hits the food. In the another aspect of the invention, the heating and sterilizing chamber for heating and sterilizing the food comprises drain means for draining the unnecessary fluid therefrom. As a result of that, the temperature of the food can be raised uniformly, so that the sterilization of the food without degrading the quality of the food is attainable.

Abstract: A method determines the amount of the fluid content with a smaller specific gravity in an airtightly sealed flexible container containing contents with different specific gravities that are automatically separated from each other when held to a stationary state. The amount of said content is determined by externally applying pressure to the airtightly sealed flexible container to increase the inner pressure thereof and collecting data on the fluid content with the smaller specific gravity.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing an instantly soluble powder quickly dissolving by only pouring hot water or water thereupon in the production of powders including tea and flavorous beverages such as coffee according to vacuum freeze-drying, which comprises, in subjecting a solution having the solids content of 5 weight % or more to vacuum freeze-drying, incorporating a gaseous body of 10 volume % or more therein to form foams at the time of freezing, and then subjecting the mixture to vacuum freeze-drying.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus capable of producing different kinds of foods, the apparatus comprising plural number of processing devices, each having a specific function for treating or holding food materials, and one or more carrier vessels for transporting the food materials from one processing device to another, the carrier vessels having multiple functions and at least one compartment for holding the food materials treated or held in the processing devices. The apparatus is capable of producing different kinds of food products by instructing the carrier vessels to transfer food materials from one device to another according to the process requirements of the desired end products. The carrier vessel has a memory device that holds the information of the locations of devices from and to which the carrier vessels are instructed to transfer food materials.

Abstract: A food sterilizing apparatus has a simple configuration and can completely and efficiently sterilize food. The food sterilizing apparatus is designed to sterilize food contained in rigid food containers and comprises a food supplying section, a linear cylindrical heater, a linear cylindrical cooler and a discharge section, each having inlet and outlet ports arranged respectively at the upstream and downstream ends thereof, any two adjacent ones of said component sections being connected in parallel or rectangularly with each other at the respective outlet and inlet ports thereof with a sealing gate interposed therebetween, said component sections being further provided with respective pushers disposed at the upstream end thereof for moving rigid food containers downstream, each of said pushers having a stroke at least equal to the width of a rigid container.

Abstract: A dyeing agent for dyeing cherries comprises (a-1) a lac dye; (b) alum; (c) L-ascorbic acid and/or a salt thereof; and (d) at least one member selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and malic acid and/or a salt thereof in an amount of 0.8.about.6.0 parts by weight of component (b), 1.0.about.10.0 parts by weight of component (c) and 3.about.23.3 parts by weight of component (d) relative to 1 part by weight of component (a-1), or (a-2) a cochineal dye and a lac dye; (b), (c) and (d) in an amount of 0.8.about.3.6 parts by weight of component (b), 1.0.about.6.0 parts by weight of component (c) and 3.about.14 parts by weight of component (d) relative to 1 part by weight of component (a-2). A method for dyeing cherries comprises the steps of charging cherries to be dyed in a container together with a dyeing solution containing the dyeing agent, degassing the contents of the container, then sealing the container and heating the sealed container.