Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a decontamination tank and method for treating reducing microbial contamination of a food product. In one embodiment, decontamination tank comprises a first chamber for holding a first antimicrobial bearing liquid for reducing a microbial contamination on a surface of the food product. The decontamination tank further comprises a second chamber for holding a second antimicrobial bearing liquid of different content than the first antimicrobial bearing liquid in the first chamber, for further reducing the microbial contamination on the surface of the food product. The decontamination tank further comprises a first unloader configured to remove the food product from the first antimicrobial bearing liquid in the first chamber and to deposit the food product toward the second chamber. The decontamination tank further comprises a second unloader configured to remove the food product from the second antimicrobial bearing liquid in the second chamber.

Abstract: A rocker chiller includes a tank having a bottom wall and a dasher assembly, which includes an axle extending in a lengthwise direction and a dasher blade extending adjacent the bottom wall. The dasher blade is mechanically coupled to the axle by a plurality of support arms extending in a radial direction between the axle and the dasher blade. A carcass deflector is provided, which is attached to the axle so that each back-and-forth oscillation of the axle and dasher blade during operation of the rocker chiller causes a back-and-forth oscillation of the carcass deflector in unison with the back-and-forth oscillation of the axle and dasher blade. The carcass deflector is spaced longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the axle and has a carcass deflection region therein that extends above a top surface of the axle and in a plane that is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the axle.

Abstract: A rocker chiller 10 includes a tank 12 with a dasher assembly 26 that oscillates across the curved bottom wall of the tank. A series of central deflectors 40 are positioned at intervals along the length of the tank and another series of side deflectors 46 are mounted at intervals along the upwardly extending side walls 16 and 18 of the tank. The side deflectors are offset longitudinally with respect to the central deflectors. The offset relationship of the side deflectors and central deflectors creates serpentine paths through the elongated tank on both sides of the tank that require the carcasses to move through more of the heat exchanging liquid and which reduces the tendency of carcasses passing each other.

Abstract: A rocker chiller 10 includes a tank 12 with a dasher assembly 26 that oscillates across the curved bottom wall of the tank. A series of central deflectors 40 are positioned at intervals along the length of the tank and another series of side deflectors 46 are mounted at intervals along the upwardly extending side walls 16 and 18 of the tank. The side deflectors are offset longitudinally with respect to the central deflectors. The offset relationship of the side deflectors and central deflectors creates serpentine paths through the elongated tank on both sides of the tank that require the carcasses to move through more of the heat exchanging liquid and which reduces the tendency of carcasses passing each other.

Abstract: An auger chiller (10) includes a carcass delivery end (18) that is sloped upwardly with a reduced radius. The auger (32) includes a progressively reduced radius auger segment (38) that matches the configuration of the angled section of the chiller tank, with the pitch of the auger blade being greater in this section of the tank for advancing the birds more reliably in a first-in first-out delivery to a sloped bird unloader (46). An arcuate basin (50) is formed at the lower arc of the peripheral rim wall (48) of the bird unloader, assuring that the heavier birds tend to sink into the basin, tending not to return to the chiller tank.

Abstract: The post chill decontamination tank assembly 24 usually is positioned at the exit end of a chiller 10 of a poultry processing line. Eviscerated birds fall into the decontamination tank 25 and the paddles 42A-42D of the paddle assembly 34 revolve in the tank about the axis 37 and collect and lift the birds through the liquid and discharge the birds from the tank. An antimicrobial is added to the liquid for treating the exposed surfaces of the birds.

Abstract: The post chill decontamination tank assembly 24 usually is positioned at the exit end of a chiller 10 of a poultry processing line. Eviscerated birds fall into the decontamination tank 25 and the paddles 42A-42D of the paddle assembly 34 revolve in the tank about the axis 37 and collect and lift the birds through the liquid and discharge the birds from the tank. An antimicrobial is added to the liquid for treating the exposed surfaces of the birds.

Abstract: The post chill decontamination tank assembly 24 usually is positioned at the exit end of a chiller 10 of a poultry processing line. Eviscerated birds fall into the decontamination tank 25 and the paddles 42A-42D of the paddle assembly 34 revolve in the tank about the axis 37 and collect and lift the birds through the liquid and discharge the birds from the tank. An antimicrobial is added to the liquid for treating the exposed surfaces of the birds.

Abstract: The post chill decontamination tank assembly 24 usually is positioned at the exit end of a chiller 10 of a poultry processing line. Eviscerated birds fall into the decontamination tank 25 and the paddles 42A-42D of the paddle assembly 34 revolve in the tank about the axis 37 and collect and lift the birds through the liquid and discharge the birds from the tank. An antimicrobial is added to the liquid for treating the exposed surfaces of the birds.

Abstract: Birds are moved through chilled water by bird moving means such as an auger or by a series of paddles. The birds tend to accumulate in a predetermined path in the water. Streams of water that include an antibacterial additive are directed toward the predetermined path and engage and disperse the birds, and wash the birds with the streams of water and the antibacterial additive, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer from the birds and increasing the effectiveness of the antibacterial properties of the agents in the chilled water.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of reducing the temperature and increasing the moisture content of carcasses includes progressively introducing the carcasses into a body of heat-exchanging fluid in a tank having a curved bottom surface, oscillating a paddle in the tank along the curved bottom surface to upwardly and laterally urge the carcasses through the body of fluid, and axially propelling jets of heat-exchanging fluid through the body of fluid to axially urge the carcasses along the length of the tank toward an outlet end of the tank.

Abstract: The chiller includes a semi-cylindrical tank (36) that conforms to the perimeter of its auger (38) so that the water can be raised to a water level (68) high above the auger shaft (44). Streams of water (84) are directed from the pulling side (80) across the lower portion of the tank beneath the auger shaft (44) to the dead side 82 of the tank at intervals along the tank so as to disperse the lower portion of the masses (23) of buoyant birds (22) from the more crowded pulling side (80) of the tank, beneath the auger shaft (44) toward the more vacant dead side (82) of the tank, thereby distributing the products more evenly throughout the tank and causing more water turbulence in the tank, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer from the birds and avoiding having the birds cross over the auger shaft moving backward in chiller into a following flight of the auger.