Apparatus and Method for Surface Treatment of a Food Product

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treatment of an outer surface of a food product are provided using a fluid having properties selected for treating the surface and bringing the fluid into contact with an outer surface of the food product in a generally continuous manner in a commercial food processing environment.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for treating the surface of a food product with fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a sleeve having an entrance opening and an exit opening, the entrance and exit openings being sized approximately the same as a cross-sectional profile of the food product;   a plurality of channels formed in an interior of the sleeve between the entrance opening and the exit opening, the channels capable of directing the flow of fluid at least partially around an outer portion of the food product, and at least one of the channels having a fluid inlet and at least one of the channels having a fluid outlet to permit the introduction and removal of the fluid into the sleeve.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein at least some of the plurality of channels are connected in a generally helical arrangement providing a continuous fluid flow path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein at least two generally helical arrangements of the plurality of channels are provided forming two separate continuous fluid flow paths from fluid inlets to fluid outlets. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein a seal element is provided proximate at least one of the sleeve entrance and exit openings, the seal element having an opening substantially the same size as the cross-sectional profile of the food product and smaller than the opening of the at least one of the sleeve entrance and exit openings. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the entrance opening and exit opening have a shape generally the same as the seal element opening shape. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the entrance opening, exit opening, and seal element openings are all either circular, D-shaped, rectangular, oval or square. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the sleeve is formed of a plurality of plates arranged in an adjacent manner, the plates each having an opening therethrough and one of the plurality of channels formed adjacent the opening in an interior of the plate, the channels each having an inlet and an outlet and generally surrounding the plate opening. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the channel inlets and outlets of adjacent plates are staggered to define flow paths in adjacent plates having alternating directions. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein seal elements are positioned between adjacent plates and at least partially define the channels. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for treating an outer surface of a food product, the apparatus comprising:
 means for generating a flow of steam in an interior of a steam sleeve having an entrance and an exit, the steam having selected properties to treat the outer surface of the food product; and   means for advancing a food product having an outer surface in a feed direction through the interior of the steam sleeve between the entrance and exit thereof, the flow of steam in the steam sleeve contacting the outer surface of the food product while the food product is passing therethrough at the predetermined temperature for treating the outer surface of the food product.   
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for treating an outer surface of a food product in accordance with  claim 26 , including means for directing steam condensation away from the outer surface of the food product.