Importance

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Abstract

A system (50) is provided for the production of elongated comestible products such as hot dogs, without the use of traditional casings. The system (50) includes a circular pattern of arrays (92) of elongated, open-ended, extruded synthetic resin cooking tubes (94, 96) within a rotatable cylindrical heating drum or housing (70). The tube housing (70) and arrays (92) are incrementally rotated and at each stop position certain of the tubes (94, 96) are filled with portions of meat emulsion (590) and alternating plugs (208), while previously filled tubes (94, 96) containing cooked product are unloaded, and other unfilled tubes are internally coated with a lubricant (e.g., a mixture of lecithin and vegetable oil). Energy exchange media such as hot water and/or steam are used within the housing to continuously cook the emulsion portions within the tubes (94, 96) to the desired extent. In another embodiment, a system (600) is provided having a stationary enclosure (602) with a heat exchange assembly (608) therein, which may include a plurality of heat exchange zones (622, 624). A series of elongated, open-ended, material treatment tubes (604) are supported by a mechanism (606) including shiftable chains (632, 634). The heat exchange zones (622, 624) include a plurality of nozzles (652) for spraying the tubes (604) with heat exchange media to thereby at least partially treat the material within the tubes (604).

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First Claim