Apparatus for processing foodstuffs

Claim 2

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs comprising: a housing having an intermediate false ceiling dividing the housing into an upper distribution chamber and a lower processing chamber, said false ceiling defining a plenum chamber in communication with an air inlet in the wall of the housing, said false ceiling also including openings providing communication between said processing chamber, distribution chamber and plenum chamber; ducting means extending along opposite walls of said processing chamber in communication therewith and with said distribution chamber; an outlet in aid housing in communication with said distribution chamber; means for supplying smoke to said processing chamber in the region of said openings; heating means disposed in the distribution chamber; a blower disposed in said distribution chamber; and means for driving said blower to circulate air and/or smoke from the plenum chamber and the processing chamber through the distribution chamber to either the outlet or via the ducting means to the processing chamber.

Claim 3

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 1 wherein the opening interconnecting the plenum chamber and the processing chamber is defined by a hollow, truncated cone supported by said false ceiling, and the opening between said plenum chamber and said distribution chamber is defiend by a volute, the volute and cone being spaced to control the circulation of air within the apparatus.

Claim 4

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 2 wherein the truncated cone is adjustable to vary the spacing between the volute and the cone.

Claim 5

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 1 wherein the ducting means provided on opposite walls of the processing chamber include a plurality of slots to aid in uniformly distributing the circulation within the processing chamber.

Claim 6

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 1 wherein the means for supplying smoke comprises an intake pipe extending from a point externally of the housing through the diStribution chamber and plenum chamber to a smoke chute attached to the lower portion of the false ceiling, said smoke chute having an outlet in the region of the opening between the plenum chamber and the processing chamber.

Claim 7

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 5 wherein the length of the smoke chute is variable.

Claim 8

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 1 wherein both the air inlet and the outlet include dampers that are mechanically operated in a manner that both dampers are simultaneously opened and simultaneously closed.

Claim 9

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 1 wherein guide vanes are provided in the distribution chamber to aid in directing the circulatory flow.

Claim 10

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 1 wherein the means for driving the blower comprises a two-speed motor mounted externally of the housing and connected to said blower.

Claim 11

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 1 further including a shower unit disposed in the processing chamber.

Claim 12

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 10 further including a drain provided in the base of the processing chamber.

Claim 13

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 1 further including auxiliary heating means disposed in the ducting means extending along opposite walls of the processing chamber.

Claim 14

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 12 further including auxiliary shower means provided in the ducting means extending along the opposite walls of the processing chamber, and above the auxiliary heating means whereby water sprayed from said auxiliary shower means impinges on the auxiliary heating means to create steam within the ducting means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 1 further including a first temperature probe means provided in the processing chamber, and a second temperature probe means capable of being inserted into the foodstuffs to be processed, in order to determine the temperatures of the foodstuffs and the temperature of the air within the processing chamber during the various stages of operation of the apparatus.

Claim 16

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs comprising: an insulated enclosure; a false ceiling mounted in said enclosure and dividing the enclosure into an upper distribution chamber and a lower processing chamber, with the false ceiling defining a plenum chamber connected via ducting to an air inlet in the wall of the enclosure, said false ceiling having openings therein providing communication between said processing chamber, said distribution chamber, and said plenum chamber; a hollow truncated cone supported by said false ceiling and provided in the opening between the plenum chamber and the processing chamber; a volute supported by said false ceiling and provided in the opening between the plenum chamber and the distribution chamber, said volute and truncated cone being spaced to define the opening leading from the plenum chamber; ducting means extending along opposite walls of siad processing chamber in communication therewith and with said distribution chamber; said enclosure including an outlet in communication with said distribution chamber; means for supplying smoke to said processing chamber in the region of said hollow truncated cone; heating means disposed in the distribution chamber; a blower disposed in said distribution chamber; and means for driving said blower to circulate air and/or smoke from the processing chamber and air from the plenum chamber through the distribution chamber to either the outlet or via the ducting means to the processing chamber.

Claim 17

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs comprising: an insulated enclosure; a false ceiling mounted in said enclosure and dividing the enclosure into an upper distribution chamber and a lower processing chamber, with the false ceiling defining a plenum chamber connected via ducting to an air inlet in the wall of the enclosure, said false ceiling having openings therein providing communication between said processing chamber, said distribution chamber, and said plenum chamber; a hollow truncated cone supported by said false ceiling and provided in the opening between the plenum chamber and the processing chamber; a volute supported by said false ceiling and provided in the opening between the plenum chamber and the distribution chamber, said volute and truncated cone being spaced to define the opening leading from the plenum chamber; ducting means extending along opposite walls of siad processing chamber in communication therewith and with said distribution chamber; said enclosure including an outlet in communication with said distribution chamber; means for supplying smoke to said processing chamber in the region of said hollow truncated cone; heating means disposed in the distribution chamber; a blower disposed in said distribution chamber; and means for driving said blower to circulate air and/or smoke from the processing chamber and air from the plenum chamber through the distribution chamber to either the outlet or via the ducting means to the processing chamber.

Claim 18

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 wherein the ducting means provided on opposite walls of said processing chamber include a plurality of passageways to uniformly distribute the circulation within the processing chamber.

Claim 19

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 wherein the means for supplying smoke comprises an intake pIpe extending from a point externally of the enclosure through the distribution chamber and plenum chamber to a smoke chute attached to the lower portion of the false ceiling, said smoke chute having an outlet in the region of said hollow truncated cone.

Claim 20

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 wherein the length of the smoke chute is variable.

Claim 21

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 wherein both the air inlet and the outlet include dampers that are mechanically operated in a manner that both dampers are simultaneously opened and simultaneously closed.

Claim 22

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 wherein guide vanes are provided in the distribution chamber to aid in directing the circulatory flow.

Claim 23

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 wherein the means for driving the blower comprises a two-speed motor mounted externally of the enclosure and connected to said blower.

Claim 24

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 further including a shower unit disposed in the processing chamber.

Claim 25

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 further including a drain provided in the base of the processing chamber.

Claim 26

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 further including an auxiliary heating means disposed in the ducting means extending along opposite walls of the processing chamber.

Claim 27

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 24 further including auxiliary shower means disposed in the ducting means and mounted above said auxiliary heating means.

Claim 28

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 15 further including a temperature probe means provided in the processing chamber, which temperature probe means is inserted into a foodstuff to be smoked in order to determine the temperature thereof during the various stages of operation of the apparatus.

Claim 29

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs comprising: a housing having an intermediate false ceiling dividing the housing into an upper distribution chamber and a lower processing chamber, said false ceiling defining a plenum connected via ducting to an air inlet in the wall of the housing, said false ceiling also including openings providing communication between said processing chamber, said distribution chamber and said plenum chamber; a hollow, truncated cone supported by said false ceiling in the opening provided between said processing chamber and said plenum chamber; a volute secured to said false ceiling in the opening between said plenum chamber and said distribution chamber, said volute and cone being spaced to control the size of the passageway extending between said plenum chamber and said volute; ducting means extending along opposite walls of said processing chamber in communication therewith and with said distribution chamber; said housing including an outlet in communication with said distribution chamber; means for supplying smoke to said apparatus including an intake pipe extending from a point externally of the housing through the distribution chamber and the plenum chamber to a smoke chute attached to the lower portion of said false ceiling, said smoke chute having an outlet in the region of the hollow, truncated cone; heating means disposed in the ducting means extending along opposite walls of the processing chamber; shower means disposed in the ducting means extending along opposite walls of the processing chamber above said heating means; a blower disposed in said distribution chamber; and a two-speed motor mounted on said housing for driving said blower to withdraw air and/or smoke from the plenum chamber and the processing chamber to the distribution chamber and to either recirculate same via the ducting means to the processing chamber, or to expel same through said outlet.

Claim 30

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs comprising: a housing having an intermediate false ceiling dividing the housing into an upper distribution chamber and a lower processing chamber, said false ceiling defining a plenum connected via ducting to an air inlet in the wall of the housing, said false ceiling also including openings providing communication between said processing chamber, said distribution chamber and said plenum chamber; a hollow, truncated cone supported by said false ceiling in the opening provided between said processing chamber and said plenum chamber; a volute secured to said false ceiling in the opening between said plenum chamber and said distribution chamber, said volute and cone being spaced to control the size of the passageway extending between said plenum chamber and said volute; ducting means extending along opposite walls of said processing chamber in communication therewith and with said distribution chamber; said housing including an outlet in communication with said distribution chamber; means for supplying smoke to said apparatus including an intake pipe extending from a point externally of the housing through the distribution chamber and the plenum chamber to a smoke chute attached to the lower portion of said false ceiling, said smoke chute having an outlet in the region of the hollow, truncated cone; heating means disposed in the ducting means extending along opposite walls of the processing chamber; shower means disposed in the ducting means extending along opposite walls of the processing chamber above said heating means; a blower disposed in said distribution chamber; and a two-speed motor mounted on said housing for driving said blower to withdraw air and/or smoke from the plenum chamber and the processing chamber to the distribution chamber and to either recirculate same via the ducting means to the processing chamber, or to expel same through said outlet.

Claim 31

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 27, wherein the size of the truncated cone is adjustable whereby the spacing between the volute and the cone may be varied.

Claim 32

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 28, wherein the length of the smoke chute is variable.

Claim 33

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 28 wherein both the air inlet and the outlet include dampers that are mechanically operated in a manner that both dampers are simultaneously opened and simultaneously closed.

Claim 34

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 28 wherein guide vanes are provided in the distribution chamber to aid in directing the circulatory flow.

Claim 35

Apparatus for porcessing foodstuffs as in claim 28 further including a shower assembly disposed in the processing chamber.

Claim 36

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 32 further including a drain provided in the base of the processing chamber.

Claim 37

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 28 further including a temperature probe means provided in the processing chamber, which temperature probe means is inserted into the foodstuffs to be smoked in order to determine the temperature thereof during the various stages of operation of the apparatus.

Claim 38

Apparatus for processing foodstuffs as in claim 34 further including a temperture measuring means located in the processing chamber for measuring the temperature thereof during the various stages of operation of the apparatus.