Patent ID: 8609171
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: A23L

Abstract:
1. A circumferential pasteurizer comprising: a generally cylindrical vessel having an inner guide surface and configured to contain a thermal medium; a thermal medium inlet disposed on a first radial side of the vessel to inlet the thermal medium; a thermal medium outlet disposed on a second radial side of the vessel diametrically opposite the first radial side to outlet the thermal medium; a food product inlet disposed on the second radial side of the vessel to introduce a food product to be pasteurized; a food product outlet disposed on the first radial side of the vessel to remove the food product after pasteurization; and a rotating paddle wheel suspended for rotation in the vessel through the thermal medium, the paddle wheel comprising wherein both the food product and the thermal medium are axially bound by the axial length of the vessel for the duration of the food product being conveyed from the food product inlet to the food product outlet and for the duration of the flow of the thermal medium from the thermal medium inlet to the thermal medium outlet, respectively, such that the conveyance of the food product is generally in the circumferential direction only, and such that the flow of the thermal medium is generally in the opposite circumferential direction only.