Abstract: An oven door latch system for a coke oven door positionable within an oven door opening and method of sealing a coke oven. The door latch system includes a rotary member rotatively attachable to the oven door. The rotary member has a wedge-shaped, arcuate engagement edge for variably engaging a striker plate on a buck stay member adjacent the oven door opening when the oven door is disposed in the opening of the oven. A tab member is also included on the rotary member. A remotely operated adjustment actuator is provided for engaging the tab member to rotate the rotary member in conjunction with an oven door opening or closing operation. Enhanced oven door sealing is provided by the rotary wedge latch system.

Abstract: The modular, angular direct steam cooker of this invention provides an agitated continuous cooker apparatus which is heated with direct steam injection. The body of the cooker is designed in sections to allow increasing the capacity of the apparatus by adding sections of injectors to the length of the cooker. The food product is pumped into one end of the cooker and elevated to discharge out of the upper end of the cooker thus preventing air or steam vapor from forming pockets in the product as it progresses through the cooker from inlet to outlet. The slope of the cooking chamber can be increased or decreased to improve mixing and reduce compaction of different food products.

Abstract: A vacuum meat marinating machine for products requiring a short vacuum massage cycle, comprising a substantially horizontal cylindrical vessel having a large opening at the top for rapid loading of product, said opening covered by a sealed vacuum cover during operation, and further having a hollow outer wall comprising a jacket for the circulation of liquid refrigerant. A paddle agitator is located within the vessel, having a hollow shaft running longitudinally within the vessel. Affixed at an angle to the shaft are a plurality of hollow triangular-shaped paddles, which paddles push product horizontally during operation. Liquid refrigerant circulates through the hollow wall of the vessel, as well as the hollow agitator shaft and paddles. The agitator shaft is connected to a reversible motor that periodically reverses the direction of rotation, thereby maximizing heat exchange between product and liquid refrigerant.

Abstract: A cryogenic control system measures rotational resistance in a cryogenic food mixing machine such as a vacuum tumbler or agitator blender to determine by test the length of time it takes from the start of chilling to reach the maximum energy level T.sub.me, and the length of time it takes to chill the product to the desired forming point stiffness T.sub.f, to establish a ratio T.sub.f /T.sub.me for that product and batch size. This ratio can then be used for subsequent cycles, regardless of cryogenic flow rate, to determine the optimum product chilling point.

Abstract: A cryogenic control system measures product temperature in a cryogenic food mixing machine such as a vacuum tumbler or agitator blender to determine the time it takes for the product to be chilled down to the point where the first cells of product start to freeze, and then stop the addition of cryogenic after a number of seconds beyond this point. By measuring the length of time it takes to chill the product down to the freezing point temperature, the proper forming point can be programmed as a multiple of this time.