Adding an Additive to a Product Suitable for Human Consumption

Abstract

A method for treating a product suitable for human consumption, in particular a meat product, such as for example slaughtered poultry or parts thereof, in which method:—a large number of products are successively supplied, optionally in groups, to an inspection station; and—each product is subjected to a visual inspection in the inspection station, in such a manner that, for example, a visually detectable defect on the respective product is detected. On the basis of the visual inspection, a decision is made as to whether the respective product should be subjected to a specific additive-addition treatment. The products to be subjected to an additive-addition treatment are successively supplied to an additive-addition station, where the products are successively subjected to an additive-addition treatment and an additive is added to at least one part of the outside of each product or the inside of each product. If desired, a visual check of the additive coating is carried out in a checking station after the additive has been applied. Preferably, the checking station is designed to carry out various visual checks, the visual check of a specific product being adapted to the previous visual inspection of the respective product prior to the application of the additive.

1 . Method for treating a product suitable for human consumption, in which method: 
 a large number of products are successively supplied, to an inspection station;    each product is subjected to a visual inspection in the inspection station, in such a manner that, a visually detectable defect on the respective product is detected,    characterized in that,    subsequently, on the basis of the visual inspection, a decision is made as to whether the respective product should be subjected to a specific additive-addition treatment,    which products to be subjected to an additive-addition treatment are successively supplied to an additive-addition station, where the products are successively subjected to an additive-addition treatment and an additive is added to at least one part of the outside of each product or the inside of each product.    
     
     
         2 . (canceled)  
     
     
         3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the products are conveyed past the inspection station by means of a first conveyor which is provided with a separate carrier for the product or group of products, a second conveyor being associated with the additive-addition station, with a separate carrier for each product or group of products, a transfer station being provided between the first and second conveyor.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the products are subjected to one or more dividing operations, in which a product is divided into parts.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 6 , in which the visual inspection takes place before the one or more dividing operations.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the additive-addition device is designed to carry out various additive-addition treatments, the treatment of a specific product being adapted to the previous visual inspection of the respective product.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 8 , in which the amount of additive to be applied is variable and the amount of additive to be applied to a specific product is adapted to the previous visual inspection of the respective product.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 8 , in which the location for applying the additive on a product is variable, the additive to be applied to a specific product being directed at one or more specific locations which are chosen on the basis of the previous visual inspection of the respective product.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the additive-addition station is fitted with an addition device, which addition device dispenses additive at a distance from the product, which additive moves towards the product through the air and at least partially lands on the product.  
     
     
         12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . Method for adding marinade to a product suitable for human consumption, characterized in that the marinade is heated prior to being added.  
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the marinade is supplied in powder form, and subsequently melted prior to application to the product.  
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 15 , in which the temperature of the product is such that the liquid marinade solidifies on the product.  
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the product is cooled prior to the application of the marinade.  
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 15 , in which the solid marinade comprises a meltable fat component and a non-meltable component, such that, after melting, the melted fat carries the non-meltable component along.  
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the supplied marinade comes into contact with one or more heated walls, leading to the marinade heating up and/or melting.  
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the marinade is moved along during melting.  
     
     
         21 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the marinade remains continuously heated from the moment it starts to melt.  
     
     
         22 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the marinade is stored in a heated buffer store after heating, while the marinade is kept moving.  
     
     
         23 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the marinade is pumped over to addition means after heating.  
     
     
         24 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the marinade is sprayed onto the product by means of a gas.  
     
     
         25 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the products are successively conveyed past a marinade-addition device in groups or individually.  
     
     
         26 . Method according to  claim 25 , in which the products are led past a camera before being conveyed to the marinade-addition device, following which the products to be marinated are selected.  
     
     
         27 . Method according to  claim 14 , in which the marinade which has not landed on the product is collected and recycled.  
     
     
         28 . Method which effects the electrostatic application of additive particles, such as on a product suitable for human consumption, in particular the additive particles being supplied to a charging electrode and an electric field being created between said charging electrode and the product, characterized in that the additive particles are deposited on the charging electrode, which is designed as a supporting surface, following which the additive particles, as a result of the electric field, leave the supporting surface and jump onto the product, which is at a distance from the electrode.  
     
     
         29 . Method according to  claim 28 , in which the products are successively conveyed past the charging electrode in groups or individually.  
     
     
         30 . (canceled)  
     
     
         31 . (canceled)  
     
     
         32 . Method according to  claim 28 , in which the additive particles are taken from a buffer store with discharge opening onto a vibrating plate, which vibrating plate conveys the additive particles to the charging electrode.  
     
     
         33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . Device for adding marinade to a product suitable for human consumption, comprising: marinade supply means and addition means which are connected to the marinade supply means for adding marinade on or into the product, characterized in that, the device comprises heating means for heating the marinade, in such a manner that the heated marinade is added on or into the product.  
     
     
         35 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the heating means comprise a melting device for melting marinade supplied in a solid state.  
     
     
         36 . Device according to  claim 35 , in which the melting device is designed for melting marinade which was originally pulverulent.  
     
     
         37 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the marinade supply means comprise a storage container for marinade, the device comprising dispensing means with an adjustable flow rate for dispensing marinade to the heating means.  
     
     
         38 . Device according to  claim 37 , in which the dispensing means are designed for dispensing marinade batchwise.  
     
     
         39 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the heating means comprise one or more heated walls, with which the marinade comes into contact, such that the marinade heats up and/or melts.  
     
     
         40 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the heating means are designed for providing a heated gas with which the marinade comes into contact, such that the marinade heats up and/or melts.  
     
     
         41 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the heating means comprise advancing means for moving the marinade along the heated wall.  
     
     
         42 . Device according to  claim 41 , in which the advancing means comprise a body which moves along the heated wall and together with the wall forms a chamber for a batch of marinade.  
     
     
         43 . Device according to  claim 41 , in which the heating means comprise two opposite spaced-apart heated walls between which the advancing means are situated.  
     
     
         44 . Device according to  claim 41 , in which the advancing means is a rotor.  
     
     
         45 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the heating means comprise a heated bottom plate, a heated top plate, a rotor arranged between the bottom plate and the top plate, and a drive mechanism for rotating the rotor.  
     
     
         46 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the device is provided with further heating means for heating the path for the marinade from the heating means.  
     
     
         47 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which a buffer store for heated liquid marinade is situated between the heating means and the addition means.  
     
     
         48 . Device according to  claim 47 , in which heating means are associated with the buffer store for keeping the marinade hot.  
     
     
         49 . Device according to  claim 47 , in which an agitator is associated with the buffer store, which can agitate the marinade in the buffer store.  
     
     
         50 . Device according to  claim 47 , in which the buffer store comprises dispensing means with an adjustable flow rate for dispensing marinade to the addition means.  
     
     
         51 . Device according to  claim 47 , in which the buffer store comprises a buffer vessel with a supply and discharge opening, and an agitator which is active in the buffer vessel.  
     
     
         52 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which a pump is arranged between the heating means and the application means for supplying marinade to the addition means.  
     
     
         53 . Device according to  claim 52 , in which the pump is a hose pump.  
     
     
         54 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the addition means are injection means.  
     
     
         55 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the addition means comprise a distributing element which comes into contact with the product.  
     
     
         56 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the addition means are spraying means.  
     
     
         57 . (canceled)  
     
     
         58 . (canceled)  
     
     
         59 . (canceled)  
     
     
         60 . Device according to  claim 56 , in which the spraying means comprise gas supply means, which provide a gas stream with which the marinade can be carried along to the product.  
     
     
         61 . (canceled)  
     
     
         62 . Device according to  claim 60 , in which gas stream heating means are provided in order to heat the gas.  
     
     
         63 . Device according to  claim 56  and in which a mixing chamber is provided in the spraying head, in such a manner that the marinade stream and the gas mix inside the spraying head.  
     
     
         64 . Device according to  claim 56 , in which a spraying head has an inlet for marinade in powder form, and an inlet for a heated gas, in such a manner that the heated gas melts the marinade and carries it along to the product.  
     
     
         65 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which the device comprises conveying means which are designed for passing the products successively in groups or individually in a conveyor track past the marinade-addition device.  
     
     
         66 . (canceled)  
     
     
         67 . Device according to  claim 34 , in which screening means are arranged behind the product, viewed from the direction of addition.  
     
     
         68 . (canceled)  
     
     
         69 . (canceled)  
     
     
         70 . Device according to  claim 67 , in which heating means are associated with the screening means for heating the marinade which lands on the screening means.  
     
     
         71 . Device according to  claim 70 , in which a collecting unit is arranged under the screening means for collecting heated marinade which has landed on the screening means.  
     
     
         72 . Device according to  claim 71 , in which a recycling device is arranged between the collecting unit and the addition means for recycling marinade collected in a collecting unit.  
     
     
         73 . (canceled)  
     
     
         74 . (canceled)  
     
     
         75 . (canceled)  
     
     
         76 . (canceled)  
     
     
         77 . (canceled)  
     
     
         78 . (canceled)  
     
     
         79 . (canceled)  
     
     
         80 . Device for electrostatically applying additive particles, to a product suitable for human consumption, in comprising: at least one charging electrode, additive supply means for supplying additive particles to the charging electrode, and means for generating an electric field between the electrode and the product, which has a charge which is different from that of the electrode, characterized in that at least one charging electrode is designed as a supporting surface for the additive particles, in that the additive supply means are designed for depositing the additive particles on the charging electrode, and in that the means for generating the electric field create a field such that the additive particles leave the supporting surface and jump onto the product, which is at a distance from the electrode.  
     
     
         81 . Device according to  claim 80 , in which the device comprises conveying means which are designed for passing the products successively in groups or individually in a conveyor track past the charging electrode.  
     
     
         82 . Device according to  claim 80 , in which the electrode is elongated and extends along the conveyor track.  
     
     
         83 . Device according to  claim 80 , in which the device comprises rotation means which enable the products to rotate relative to the charging electrode.  
     
     
         84 . (canceled)  
     
     
         85 . (canceled)  
     
     
         86 . Device according to  claim 80 , in which the additive supply means comprise a buffer store with discharge opening and dosing means for supplying the additive particles to the charging electrode in a dosed manner.  
     
     
         87 . (canceled)  
     
     
         88 . Device according to  claim 86 , in which a vibrating plate is arranged between the discharge opening and the charging electrode.  
     
     
         89 . (canceled)  
     
     
         90 . (canceled)  
     
     
         91 . (canceled)  
     
     
         92 . (canceled)  
     
     
         93 . (canceled)  
     
     
         94 . (canceled)  
     
     
         95 . (canceled)  
     
     
         96 . (canceled)  
     
     
         97 . (canceled)  
     
     
         98 . (canceled)  
     
     
         99 . (canceled)  
     
     
         100 . (canceled)  
     
     
         101 . Device for adding marinade to a product suitable for human consumption, comprising: marinade supply means, spraying means which are connected to the marinade supply means for adding marinade on or into the product, conveying means which are designed for passing the products successively in groups or individually in a conveyor track past the marinade-addition device  
       characterized in that, 
 the device comprises heating means for heating the marinade, in such a manner that the heated marinade is sprayed on the product, and in that a buffer store for heated liquid marinade is situated between the heating means and the addition means, in which the heating means are associated with the buffer store for keeping the marinade hot.  
 
     
     
         102 . Method according to  claim 5 , wherein memory means is used furthermore in such a manner aht the result of the visual inspection station of every product carried on the second conveyor is known.