James C Meng

US Patent:

20090211274, Aug 27, 2009

Filed:

Feb 22, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/072074

Inventors:

James C. Meng - San Antonio TX, US

International Classification:

F25D 17/08
F25D 23/00

US Classification:

62 93, 62271

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for pretreating a fresh food product to relieve the internal (turgor) pressure and adjust the product temperature has an enclosure with an internal space, an air inlet and an air outlet. An exhaust fan is in fluid communication with the internal space. First and second spaced apart rows of product containers are disposed on either side of the exhaust fan to form an airflow aisle with an open end. A cover extends over the airflow aisle and the open end to form an air plenum tunnel. The exhaust fan is activated to lower the air pressure within the tunnel and pull enclosure air through openings in and between the product containers and over and around the food product. The exhaust fan further circulates exhaust air over cooling coils and returns exhaust air to the internal space of the enclosure.An air conditioning mechanism is attached at a first end to the enclosure outlet. The mechanism conditions a withdrawn portion of the enclosure air by a) dehydrating a portion of the withdrawn air in response to a predetermined relative humidity set point within the internal space; b) heating or cooling the withdrawn portion of the enclosure air in response to a predetermined temperature set point for the fresh food products; and c) returning at a second end of the conditioning mechanism the conditioned portion of the withdrawn air to the internal space through the air inlet.

US Patent:

20110123698, May 26, 2011

Filed:

Apr 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/735835

Inventors:

James C. Meng - San Antonio TX, US

International Classification:

A23B 7/00
A47J 23/00

US Classification:

426418, 99473

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for pretreating a fresh food product to relieve the internal (turgor) pressure and adjust the product temperature Invention has an enclosure with an internal space, an air inlet and an air outlet An exhaust fan is in fluid communication with the internal space Rows of product containers are disposed on either side of the exhaust fan to form an airflow aisle with an open end. A cover extends over the airflow aisle and the open end to form an air plenum tunnel. The exhaust fan is activated to lower the air pressure within the tunnel and pull enclosure air through openings in and between the product containers and over and around the food product. The exhaust fan further circulates exhaust air over cooling coils and returns exhaust air to the internal space of the enclosure. An air conditioning mechanism is attached to the enclosure outlet