Albert F Rica

45818746, Apr 15, 1986

Jul 14, 1983

6/514155

Steven A. Rechtsteiner - Stockton CA
Albert F. Rica - Stockton CA
John C. Davis - Palentine IL
Ronald J. Reiss - Hoffman Estates IL
J. Richard Heron - Danville CA
Lloyd F. Hay - Oakdale CA

FranRica Mfg. Inc. - Stockton CA
Container Technologies, Inc. - Barrington IL

B65B 3102
B65B 5502
B65B 4326

53425

A fitmentless, aseptic, temporarily sealed pouch is formed from two multiple-ply side walls sealed together at marginal edges. A portion of the seal is removable. Half seals joining the plies within each side wall are disposed in the side walls proximate the removable seal, but do not seal the side walls together. Apparatus and processes for handling, filling and sealing the pouch in an aseptic chamber include apparatus for moving the pouch through a sterilant bath, into and out of an aseptic chamber, a cutter for cutting off the removable seal, and vacuum jaws for engaging, stretching and opening the pouch. Once opened, the pouch is filled, then closed, sealed and moved out of the chamber through the bath.

43844634, May 24, 1983

Jul 23, 1981

6/286065

Albert F. Rica - Stockton CA
Lloyd F. Hay - Oakdale CA
John R. Heron - Danville CA
John R. Webber - Stockton CA
Steven A. Rechtsteiner - Stockton CA

FranRica Mfg. Inc. - Stockton CA

F25D 1702

62374

A dual cooling tunnel arrangement for cooling viscous heated fluid foodstuffs in flexible bags. The flexible bags containing the heated fluids are received on pivoted wire carriers which are driven by an endless chain through an upper cooling tunnel in a first direction and returned through a second cooling tunnel in the opposite direction. In each cooling tunnel, a cooling water spray is directed on the bags in the carriers as the carriers are slowly rocked, causing the fluid in each bag to flow to different areas of the bag, altering its shape, to produce enhanced heat transfer rates and a more uniform temperature distribution throughout the fluid during cooling.

42829259, Aug 11, 1981

Mar 26, 1980

6/134266

Lloyd F. Hay - Oakdale CA
Albert F. Rica - Stockton CA
J. R. Webber - Stockton CA

FranRica Mfg. Inc. - Stockton CA

F28F 500

165 94

A scraped surface heat exchanger is disclosed which includes a heat exchange cylinder and a vertically disposed rotating drum positioned within the cylinder having pivotal scraping elements on the periphery thereof for scraping the cylinder interior surface. The cylinder and drum define an annular product flow chamber through which product is pumped in heat transfer relationship to the cylinder. The heat transfer cylinder is surrounded by a thermally insulated jacket which in combination with the cylinder defines an annular flow chamber for circulation of a heat transfer medium to facilitate cooling or heating of product passing through the product flow chamber. The drum is mounted on a shaft which is journaled in a bearing at only one end, requiring utilization of only a single seal to seal the bearing from the product being heated or cooled. An indicator element integral with a carrier to which a rotating seal element is attached moves as the seal wears to provide a visual indication of seal wear. The carrier is designed such that the net product force acting on the carrier is in a direction tending to urge the relatively moving seal element together.

44943636, Jan 22, 1985

Aug 20, 1982

6/409927

Albert F. Rica - Stockton CA
John C. Davis - Palentine IL
Ronald J. Reiss - Hoffman Estates IL

FranRica Mfg. Inc. - Stockton CA
Container Technologies, Inc. - Barrington IL

B65B 702
B65B 3102
B65B 5504

53426

There is disclosed apparatus for aseptically filling a flexible container having a rigid fitment including a neck, outer flange surrounding the neck, a frangible membrane and an outer rim. The apparatus includes an enclosed filling chamber including a platen with an opening, clamping jaws for holding the fitment in the opening, a vacuum head and sealing unit for removing a lid loosely placed on the fitment and supporting it within the sealing chamber while the sealing chamber, fitment and lid are sterilized, a fill tube which is retractable within a housing and shiftable to a position in sealed engagement with the neck to introduce product into the container. After the container is filled, the fill tube is withdrawn and enclosed in its housing, the lid is transferred back onto the rim and heat sealed in place. The fitment is then unclamped to end the filling cycle.

44373155, Mar 20, 1984

Dec 20, 1982

6/451722

Albert F. Rica - Stockton CA
Lloyd F. Hay - Oakdale CA
John R. Heron - Danville CA
John R. Webber - Stockton CA
Steven A. Rechtsteiner - Stockton CA

FranRica Mfg. Inc. - Stockton CA

F25D 1306

62 63

A dual cooling tunnel arrangement for cooling viscous heated fluid foodstuffs in flexible bags. The flexible bags containing the heated fluids are received on pivoted wire carriers which are driven by an endless chain through an upper cooling tunnel in a first direction and returned through a second cooling tunnel in the opposite direction. In each cooling tunnel, a cooling water spray is directed on the bags in the carriers as the carriers are slowly rocked, causing the fluid in each bag to flow to different areas of the bag, altering its shape, to produce enhanced heat transfer rates and a more uniform temperature distribution throughout the fluid during cooling.