Abstract: A tenderizer system, apparatus and method to tenderize meat products and other foods through a cross-cut tenderizing process. This process can be performed by a tenderizer cartridge including at least two shafts in parallel, where a stack of blades are disposed on each shaft and in contact with each other along a respective shaft, each blade including teeth around outer circumferences such that each blade in contact is aligned to form continuous ridges that extend in parallel with the shafts.

Abstract: A seal head assembly includes a plurality of heat seal plates defining a corresponding plurality of heating areas, each heat seal plate including a heating element to independently control the temperature of the corresponding heating area.

Abstract: A vacuum sealing system includes a vacuum pump, a lower tool to hold one or more trays carrying product, an upper tool to seal a plastic film onto the one or more trays, the upper tool including at least one seal plate with a seal plate cavity and a vacuum clamp, the system also including a controller to control the vacuum pump, the lower tool, and the upper tool.

Abstract: A sealing system configured to receive a container and seal the container with a lidding. The system comprises an in-feeder that is configured to receive a plurality of containers and transport a batch of containers that are selected from the plurality of containers; and a modular seal assembly that is configured to seal the batch of containers with a lidding, wherein the modular seal assembly comprises: a docking station that is configured to hold a plurality of sealing modules; and a sealing module that is configured to be removable from the docking station without removing any other one of the plurality of sealing modules.

Abstract: A driver for a food conditioner that comprises a drive shaft that is configured to be driven by a motor, a continuous-to-intermittent converter that is configured to be coupled to the drive shaft, and a slip clutch that is configured to be coupled to the continuous-to-intermittent converter, wherein the slip clutch is further configured to disengage when a torque applied to the slip clutch exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An intervention system for treating a food product in a food conditioner. The system comprises a tank that receives and buffers an intervention solution from a mixing system, a pump that receives the intervention solution from the tank and pressurizes the intervention solution to output a pressurized intervention solution, a flow monitor that receives the pressurized intervention solution from the pump and monitors a predetermined characteristic of the pressurized intervention solution, a first applicator that receives a first portion of the pressurized intervention solution from the flow monitor and ejects a first mist in the direction of the food product, and a second applicator that receives a second portion of the pressurized intervention solution from the flow monitor and ejects a second mist in the direction of the food product.

Abstract: A food conditioner having a primary guard that is configured to be removable and a drive train network that is configured to automatically unlatch when the primary guard is removed, wherein the primary guard includes a guard partition that forces engagement of a tapered coupling drive.

Abstract: A slicer system and method is disclosed that cuts meat products from a primal. The system comprises an isolated chute that delivers the primal to a cutting area along a first direction, a shuttle that moves a portion of the primal in a horizontal plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a conveyor that supports and carries a meat product cut from the primal in the cutting area, and a sprayer that applies a fluid to a cutting blade in the cutting area.

Abstract: A roadway-powered electric vehicle system includes an all-electric vehicle and a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The vehicle has one or more onboard energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical power used to propel the electric vehicle. The energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation.

Abstract: A roadway-powered electric vehicle (RPEV) system includes: (1) an all-electric vehicle; and (2) a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The all-electric vehicle has one or more onboard energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical power used to propel the electric vehicle. The energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation. The charging occurs through a network of power coupling elements, e.g., coils, embedded in the roadway.

Abstract: A roadway-powered electric vehicle (RPEV) system includes: (1) an all-electric vehicle; and (2) a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The all-electric vehicle has one or more onboard energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical power used to propel the electric vehicle. The energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation. The charging occurs through a network of power coupling elements, e.g., coils, embedded in the roadway.

Abstract: The present invention has several aspects. One aspect relates to a method of wrapping a package containing a food product which is attractive and serves to present the food product in an appealing setting. The package includes a preformed tray and a heat sensitive transparent film sheet which is attached at at least one attachment region to the tray without wrinkles in the film sheet. A packaging machine, a cutting and heating assembly and the package itself comprise the other aspects of the invention. In each case, the transparent film sheet is wrinkle free.

Abstract: A roadway-powered electric vehicle system includes: (1) an all-electric vehicle; and (2) a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The all-electric vehicle has one or more onboard energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical energy used to propel the electric vehicle. The energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation. The charging occurs through a network of power coupling elements, e.g., coils, embedded in the roadway. As the vehicle passes over such power coupling elements as it is driven on the roadway network, electrical current is inductively coupled to corresponding onboard power coupling elements, e.g., coils, and used to charge the onboard energy storage devices.

Abstract: A roadway-powered electric vehicle (RPEV) system includes: (1) an all-electric vehicle; and (2) a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The all-electric vehicle has one or more onboard energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical power used to propel the electric vehicle. The energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation. The charging occurs through a network of power coupling elements, e.g., coils, embedded in the roadway.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring thermal energy between a temperature-controlled fluid and products to be treated comprises a tunnel having a plurality of openings through which extend duct members for supplying said tunnel with a temperature-controlled fluid from a supply plenum. A perforated metal conveyor belt within said tunnel is driven by a variable speed drive and supports the product to be treated. A return plenum is positioned between the supply plenum and the tunnel and communicates with the tunnel through the plurality of openings. Means to circulate the temperature-controlled fluid forces the fluid through the duct members which collimate the fluid and discharge it in the form of high-velocity jets against the product. The jets break up the boundary layer around the product to facilitate heat transfer and the fluid rebounds through the openings through which the ducts project into a return plenum without producing laminar flow across the treated product.