GB1570281A

GB1570281A - Food drier

Info

Publication number: GB1570281A
Application number: GB4323375A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-10-20
Filing date: 1976-10-20
Publication date: 1980-06-25

Description

(54) A FOOD DRIER (71) I, LESLIE SIDNEY BAXTER, a British Subject, of La Escala, Oakway, Studham, Bedfordshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a method of drying food in preparation for freezing.

Drying food prior to deep freezing means that food is not taken out in congealed lumps, but in individual pieces. This leads to easier defrosting and to retention of natural juices in the food, and also gives quicker cooking. It also leads to quicker freezing enabling better use of space.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of drying food comprising positioning food in an enclosure, blowing air through the enclosure to dry the food by means of a blower driven by an electric motor, and heating the air flow by means of an electric heater disposed in the path of the air flow to the enclosure.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, referring to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a drier embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 1, a drier comprises a box-like cabinet 10 having a removable top 18. In the lower part of the cabinet, a conveyor belt 12 is mounted around an idler roller 14 and a drive roller 16 which is driven by an electric motor (not shown). The motor may be controlled by a variable speed control, for example a thyristor circuit.

The removable top 18 carries a hopper 20 through which food to be dried can be discharged onto the conveyor belt 12. An electric hot air blower discharges into the cabinet through a grille 22, and the hot air removes moisture from the food as it is carried through the cabinet. The dried food is discharged from the belt 12 into a holding area 24 from which it may be removed by a scoop through a front opening 26.

If desired the belt conveyor could be replaced by a conveyor in the form of a vibratory tray. Also if desired means may be provided adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyor for sterilising the dried food. The sterilising means may comprise an ultra-violet lamp.

Referring to Figure 2, a further embodiment has a base unit 30 housing a motor and fan (not shown). Air is drawn through an inlet 32 and delivered via a pipe 34 and heater 36 to an air chamber 38 of cylindrical form. A food receptacle in the form of an upright cylinder 40 is removably received on the air chamber 38 so that heated air can be passed vertically upwards through the cylinder 40. The food cylinder 40 is suitably moulded from a clear plastics material and has its lower end closed by a mesh or other apertured structure. A number of food cylinders may be provided to enable food to be prepared and excess water drained off in one whilst a first batch of food is being dried in another.

In either embodiment the hot air blower suitably comprises a resistance element and an electric-motor driven fan, and its heat input to the cabinet may be controlled by varying the fan speed and/or switching sections of the element, both of these being well known per se. By controlling belt speed and/or heat input, the drier can be adjusted for different types of food.

The use of the drier in accordance with the invention gives several advantages when preparing food for deep freezing. Pre-drying reduces the volume of the food to be frozen, thus making better use of the space in the freezer. Food packed in this way may be thawed more quickly for use. There are also advantages of hygiene, since the use of cloths, paper towels and the like in preparation for freezing is avoided.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A method of drying food comprising positioning food in an enclosure, blowing air through the enclosure to dry the food

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) A FOOD DRIER (71) I, LESLIE SIDNEY BAXTER, a British Subject, of La Escala, Oakway, Studham, Bedfordshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a method of drying food in preparation for freezing. Drying food prior to deep freezing means that food is not taken out in congealed lumps, but in individual pieces. This leads to easier defrosting and to retention of natural juices in the food, and also gives quicker cooking. It also leads to quicker freezing enabling better use of space. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of drying food comprising positioning food in an enclosure, blowing air through the enclosure to dry the food by means of a blower driven by an electric motor, and heating the air flow by means of an electric heater disposed in the path of the air flow to the enclosure. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, referring to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a drier embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, a drier comprises a box-like cabinet 10 having a removable top 18. In the lower part of the cabinet, a conveyor belt 12 is mounted around an idler roller 14 and a drive roller 16 which is driven by an electric motor (not shown). The motor may be controlled by a variable speed control, for example a thyristor circuit. The removable top 18 carries a hopper 20 through which food to be dried can be discharged onto the conveyor belt 12. An electric hot air blower discharges into the cabinet through a grille 22, and the hot air removes moisture from the food as it is carried through the cabinet. The dried food is discharged from the belt 12 into a holding area 24 from which it may be removed by a scoop through a front opening 26. If desired the belt conveyor could be replaced by a conveyor in the form of a vibratory tray. Also if desired means may be provided adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyor for sterilising the dried food. The sterilising means may comprise an ultra-violet lamp. Referring to Figure 2, a further embodiment has a base unit 30 housing a motor and fan (not shown). Air is drawn through an inlet 32 and delivered via a pipe 34 and heater 36 to an air chamber 38 of cylindrical form. A food receptacle in the form of an upright cylinder 40 is removably received on the air chamber 38 so that heated air can be passed vertically upwards through the cylinder 40. The food cylinder 40 is suitably moulded from a clear plastics material and has its lower end closed by a mesh or other apertured structure. A number of food cylinders may be provided to enable food to be prepared and excess water drained off in one whilst a first batch of food is being dried in another. In either embodiment the hot air blower suitably comprises a resistance element and an electric-motor driven fan, and its heat input to the cabinet may be controlled by varying the fan speed and/or switching sections of the element, both of these being well known per se. By controlling belt speed and/or heat input, the drier can be adjusted for different types of food. The use of the drier in accordance with the invention gives several advantages when preparing food for deep freezing. Pre-drying reduces the volume of the food to be frozen, thus making better use of the space in the freezer. Food packed in this way may be thawed more quickly for use. There are also advantages of hygiene, since the use of cloths, paper towels and the like in preparation for freezing is avoided. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A method of drying food comprising positioning food in an enclosure, blowing air through the enclosure to dry the food by means of a blower driven by an electric motor, and heating the air flow by means of an electric heater disposed in the path of the air flow to the enclosure.

2. Apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 1, in which said enclosure is an enclosed cabinet, and including a substantially horizontal conveyor within the cabinet, a hopper arranged to discharge food to be dried onto the conveyor adjacent one end thereof, and an outlet from the cabinet at the other end of the conveyor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the conveyor is a belt conveyor driven by a variable speed electric motor.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the conveyor is a vibratory tray.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 4, comprising means adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor for sterilising dried food.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which said sterilising means is an ultra-violet lamp.

7. Apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 1, comprising a base having the blower, and in which the enclosure comprises a food container removably received on the base, the container being closed at its lower end by a mesh or other apertured structure, the arrangement being such that heated air can pass upwards through the food container.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the base comprises a main body housing the blower, an air chamber received on the main body and adapted to receive the removable container, and an air pipe interconnecting the blower and the air chamber

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8, in which the container is an upright clear plastics cylinder.

10. Food drying apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of, the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of drying food substantially as hereinbefore described.