Rotary screw blancher
A food processing apparatus includes a tank defining an inner compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, an open-top screen mounted within the compartment and positioned relative to the tank in a first position, and a rotatable auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen for advancing food product within the tank from the inlet end of the tank toward the outlet end.
1. A food processing apparatus comprising:
a compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product;
a screen mounted within the compartment, the screen including a screen wall having a length, a circumferential first end and an opposite, circumferential second end, the first end and the second end defining therebetween a circumferentially-extending open portion of the screen, the open portion extending along at least a portion of the length of the screen wall, the screen being oriented relative to an auger during a food processing operation in a first orientation, in which a sidewall portion of the screen supports the food product and the open portion opens at least partially upwardly in a first direction, a screen position being adjustable to a second orientation relative to the auger, in which the screen is oriented such that the sidewall portion is accessible for cleaning; and
an auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen, a portion of the auger being accessible through the open portion of the screen, the auger being rotatable about an axis and for advancing food product within the compartment from the inlet end toward the outlet end.
2. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screen is pivotable about the axis defined by the auger.
3. The food processing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the screen is rotatable about the axis defined by the auger.
4. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising a screen drive interconnected with the screen, the screen drive including a brake motor operable to hold the screen in the first position, the brake motor, when released, allowing the screen to move toward the second orientation.
5. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screen is formed of one piece.
6. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screen is formed of a first screen portion and a separate, second screen portion, the first screen portion and the second screen portion being relatively movable.
7. The food processing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first screen portion provides the circumferential first end and has an opposite, circumferential third end, wherein the second screen portion provides the circumferential second end and has an opposite, circumferential fourth end, wherein, in the first orientation of the screen, the third end is positioned adjacent to the fourth end such that food product is supported in the screen.
8. The food processing apparatus of claim 6 , and further comprising a support shaft supporting the auger for rotation, wherein the first screen portion and the second screen portion are supported on and rotatable about the support shaft to move toward the second orientation.
9. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising a support shaft supporting the auger for rotation, wherein the screen is supported on and rotatable about the support shaft to move toward the second orientation.
10. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising a pair of tracks located on a bottom portion of the compartment, the screen being supported by and riding along the tracks as the screen moves toward the second orientation.
11. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the compartment has a compartment wall, and wherein the food processing apparatus further comprises a plurality of injectors disposed in the compartment between the compartment wall and the screen, the injectors being operable to discharge a fluid under pressure toward the screen.
12. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the auger includes auger flights having a radial edge, a clearance gap being defined between the screen and the radial edge of the auger, the clearance gap being less than about 0.5 inches.
13. The food processing apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the clearance gap is less than about 0.1 inches.
14. The food processing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the clearance gap is about 0.06 inches.
15. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screen includes a wedge wire screen.
16. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising a tank at least partially defining the compartment.
17. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising a lift assembly at least partially positioned within the compartment at the outlet end, the lift assembly being operable to lift food product from the screen and to deposit food product in a discharge chute.
18. The food processing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the lift assembly includes at least one lifting bucket rotatable with the auger, the lifting bucket being operable to lift food product from the screen and to deposit food product into a discharge chute.
19. The food processing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the lift assembly includes an outer wall and a door in the outer wall for accessing the at least one lifting bucket.
20. The food processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the food processing apparatus includes a rotary blancher apparatus.