Foods and beverages: apparatus – Means to treat food – Automatic control or time means
Patent
1998-10-06
2000-03-07
Simone, Timothy F.
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Means to treat food
Automatic control or time means
99495, 99510, 364400, 364578, A23L 100
Patent
active
060325747
ABSTRACT:
Re-configurable modular food processing cells (10) consisting of rapidly re-configurable functional modules (50) are easily transported to any site for appropriate reconfiguration to process harvested crop material. Each cell (10) provides a shipping container-type enclosure (20), and is therefore highly transportable. Within each modular food processing cell are a plurality of functional modules (50), each module adapted for a specific food processing function, such as cleaning, grinding or filling or labeling containers. Transitional fixtures and fittings (80) allow the output of a first functional module to be input into a second functional module. A computer control system (30), carried by each cell (10), controls the operation of each module (50) by means of control circuitry (40) and video display instructions to the module operator personnel (16). A re-configurable deck flooring (60), and optionally a re-configurable ceiling (70), allows rapid rearrangement and customization of the interior floor plan and associated functionality of the container cell (10). While in a preferred embodiment of the invention the cells are housed within shipping containers, it in an alternate version of the invention the cells can be operated in lines that are within a standard facility, i.e., without a shipping container. In such a facility, the cells can be rapidly reconfigured to provide for relatively low scale production quantities, such as with gourmet or specialty foods.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4474303 (1984-10-01), Maccise
patent: 4885677 (1989-12-01), Heilman et al.
patent: 4919950 (1990-04-01), Mak
patent: 4920251 (1990-04-01), Whitenack et al.
patent: 5033366 (1991-07-01), Sullivan
patent: 5038572 (1991-08-01), Bruijne et al.
patent: 5172328 (1992-12-01), Cahlander et al.
patent: 5454753 (1995-10-01), Marchese
patent: 5513908 (1996-05-01), Williams
patent: 5522309 (1996-06-01), Mizobuchi et al.
patent: 5572984 (1996-11-01), Alden et al.
patent: 5573082 (1996-11-01), Conlan et al.
patent: 5738578 (1998-04-01), Marchese
Brayton Darryl D.
Rickard Howard M.
Romero Stephen G.
Simone Timothy F.
Thompson David S.
LandOfFree
Re-configurable modular food processing cells does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Re-configurable modular food processing cells, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Re-configurable modular food processing cells will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-353244