US 11,896,021 B2
Rotary screw blancher
Daniel D. Maupin, Corvallis, OR (US); and David R. Zittel, Columbus, WI (US)
Assigned to Lyco Manufacturing, Inc., Columbus, WI (US)
Filed by Lyco Manufacturing, Inc., Columbus, WI (US)
Filed on Oct. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/495,366.
Application 17/495,366 is a continuation of application No. 16/207,929, filed on Dec. 3, 2018, granted, now 11,154,066.
Application 16/207,929 is a continuation of application No. 14/328,248, filed on Jul. 10, 2014, granted, now 10,143,209, issued on Dec. 4, 2018.
Application 14/328,248 is a continuation of application No. 13/326,453, filed on Dec. 15, 2011, granted, now 8,776,674, issued on Jul. 15, 2014.
Application 13/326,453 is a continuation of application No. 12/608,486, filed on Oct. 29, 2009, granted, now 8,087,348, issued on Jan. 3, 2012.
Application 12/608,486 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/216,478, filed on Aug. 31, 2005, granted, now 7,735,415, issued on Jun. 15, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2022/0022475 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A23B 7/06 (2006.01); A23N 12/04 (2006.01); A47J 37/04 (2006.01); A47J 37/12 (2006.01); B01D 29/35 (2006.01); B07B 1/20 (2006.01); B07B 1/55 (2006.01); B01D 29/58 (2006.01); B01D 29/64 (2006.01)
CPC A23B 7/06 (2013.01) [A23N 12/04 (2013.01); A47J 37/044 (2013.01); A47J 37/1214 (2013.01); B01D 29/356 (2013.01); B01D 29/58 (2013.01); B01D 29/6476 (2013.01); B07B 1/20 (2013.01); B07B 1/55 (2013.01); A47J 37/047 (2013.01); A47J 37/1228 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A food processing apparatus comprising:
a pressure vessel defining a compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product;
a pressure-limiting transfer mechanism for transferring food product relative to the pressure vessel and limiting pressure discharge from the pressure vessel during transfer of food product, wherein the pressure limiting mechanism includes a rotating component;
an open-top screen mounted within the compartment, the screen being movable relative to the compartment between a first position, for food processing, and a second position, to facilitate cleaning; and
a rotatable auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen, the auger being operable to advance food product within the compartment from the inlet end toward the outlet end.