AU728000B2 - Method and apparatus for surface freezing - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for surface freezing Download PDF

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Publication number
AU728000B2
AU728000B2 AU73538/98A AU7353898A AU728000B2 AU 728000 B2 AU728000 B2 AU 728000B2 AU 73538/98 A AU73538/98 A AU 73538/98A AU 7353898 A AU7353898 A AU 7353898A AU 728000 B2 AU728000 B2 AU 728000B2
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AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
foraminous
conveyor belt
belt
food product
jets
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
AU73538/98A
Other versions
AU7353898A (en
Inventor
Jonny Malmberg
Lennart Olsson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
John Bean Technologies AB
Original Assignee
Frigoscandia Equipment AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Frigoscandia Equipment AB filed Critical Frigoscandia Equipment AB
Publication of AU7353898A publication Critical patent/AU7353898A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU728000B2 publication Critical patent/AU728000B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D13/00—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms
    • F25D13/06—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
    • F25D13/067—Stationary devices, e.g. cold-rooms with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space with circulation of gaseous cooling fluid
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
    • A23L3/36—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
    • A23L3/361—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling the materials being transported through or in the apparatus, with or without shaping, e.g. in form of powder, granules, or flakes
    • A23L3/362—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling the materials being transported through or in the apparatus, with or without shaping, e.g. in form of powder, granules, or flakes with packages or with shaping in form of blocks or portions
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
    • A23L3/36—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
    • A23L3/37—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling with addition of or treatment with chemicals
    • A23L3/375—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling with addition of or treatment with chemicals with direct contact between the food and the chemical, e.g. liquid nitrogen, at cryogenic temperature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
    • F25D25/04—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by conveyors

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Nutrition Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Freezing, Cooling And Drying Of Foods (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)
  • Chain Conveyers (AREA)
  • Belt Conveyors (AREA)

Description

WO 98/49505 PCT/SE98/00735 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE FREEZING The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for freezing a surface layer of a food product.
When freezing products that do not have a fully solid structure, the products can easily mould to the base, on which they are frozen. This is disadvantageous if the base has a shape that differs from the one that is desirable for the product in its final frozen form. There is also a risk that the products freeze onto the base, which results on the one hand in the product being defective and, on the other hand, in residues of the product remaining on the base and needing to be removed before the base can be used again.
It is known that freezing fast can be avoided if the base is given a very low temperature. This is, however, a relatively energy-consuming method as it requires liquid nitrogen or the like. Alternatively, a foil can be used between the base and the product, in which case the product need not have such a low temperature. However, the heat transmission will then be relatively poor especially if the product is not so soft that a major part of its lower surface presses the foil into direct contact with the base.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method of freezing a surface layer of a food product in an energy-effective manner and while ensuring that the surface layer over the major part of the lower surface of the product is frozen.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by the method and the apparatus being given the distinguishing features that are evident from the appended independent method claim and apparatus claim, respectively. Various embodiments will appear from the dependent claims.
In the inventive method, the food product is thus placed on a non-foraminous conveyor belt and cold air WO 98/49505 PCT/SE98/00735 2 in the form of jets is blown towards the underside of the conveyor belt. This results in very efficient cooling of the non-foraminous conveyor belt from the underside thereof, thereby achieving rapid freezing of a layer closest to the lower surface of the product, said lower surface abutting directly against the upper side of the non-foraminous conveyor belt.
To freeze food products by subjecting them directly to cold jets is previously known, but many products of a wholly or partly looser consistency can, of course, probably not be subjected to such jets. By using a nonforaminous conveyor belt, it will however be possible to freeze also such food products at least over a surface in direct contact with the conveyor belt if the jets are instead directed to the underside of the conveyor belt and this is not made too thick or too poorly thermally conductive.
In a preferred embodiment, the non-foraminous conveyor belt comprises a non-foraminous foil strip supported by a foraminous supporting belt. When the cold jets are blown towards the underside of the this conveyor belt, they pass through the foraminous supporting belt and press the foil strip into intimate contact with a major part of the underside of the food product, even if this surface is somewhat uneven. Excellent heat transmission is thus achieved, and the bottom layer of the food product can rapidly be transferred to a frozen state.
In an alternative embodiment, the conveyor belt comprises a single belt of metal or some other material haying good thermal conductivity, such that also in this case excellent heat transmission can be achieved and the bottom layer of the food product thus can be quickly transferred to a frozen state.
Preferably, the cold air is blown in the form of jets towards the underside of the non-foraminous conveyor belt in a stationary area, which extends over the width of the non-foraminous conveyor belt, while at the same WO 98/49505 PCT/SE98/00735 3 time the non-foraminous conveyor belt is successively moved past the stationary area.
In one embodiment, use is also made of a superposed, non-foraminous cover belt, which is positioned on top of and in contact with the food product on the non-foraminous conveyor belt and which is moved in parallel therewith. Also in this case, cold air is blown in the form of jets towards the upper side of the superposed cover belt. As a result, the entire surface layer, or a great part thereof, of the food product can be frozen effectively, i.e. with good heat transmission and in a short time.
An apparatus for carrying out the inventive method comprises a non-foraminous conveyor belt and a plurality of stationary nozzles for blowing cold air in the form of jets towards the underside of the non-foraminous conveyor belt in an area which extends over the width of the nonforaminous conveyor belt.
In a preferred embodiment, the non-foraminous conveyor belt comprises a non-foraminous foil strip supported by a foraminous supporting belt.
Alternatively, the non-foraminous conveyor belt can consist of a single non-foraminous belt of metal or some other material with good thermal conductivity.
In one embodiment, the apparatus also comprises a superposed, non-foraminous cover belt, which is arranged above the non-foraminous conveyor belt to cover a food product positioned on said conveyor belt, and a. plurality of additional stationary nozzles for blowing cold air in the form of jets towards the upper side of the superposed, non-foraminous cover belt.
The superposed cover belt preferably is a non-foraminous foil strip, but it can also consist of a belt of metal or some other material with good thermal conductivity.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing WO 98/49505 PCT/SE98/00735 4 which is a schematic side view of a freezing apparatus for food products.
More specifically, the drawing illustrates a freezer 1 with a feed opening 2 and a discharge opening 3. The freezer 1 can be of the type using a foraminous conveyor belt 4, which moves the food products that are to be frozen along a helical path from the feed opening 2 to the discharge opening 3 while cold air is forced to flow round the food products, such that they are completely frozen when reaching the discharge opening 3 of the freezer 1.
An apparatus 5 according to the invention is in this case used as a prefreezer for producing at least a frozen bottom layer on food products 6 before they are placed on the foraminous conveyor belt 4 of the freezer 1.
The apparatus 5 comprises a foraminous supporting belt 5 which travels in an endless path over two deflecting rollers 8 and 9. A storage roll 10 contains a foil strip 11, which from the storage roll 10 is extended over an upper run 12 for the supporting belt 7 to a receiving roll 13.
Under the supporting belt 7 in the upper run 12 thereof, a plurality of stationary nozzles 14 are arranged. The nozzles 14 are distributed in an area which extends over essentially the entire width of the supporting belt 7, said width being essentially the same as or greater than the width of the foil strip 11. The nozzles 14 constitute outlets from a duct 15 which in turn is supplied with cold air at high pressure by means of a fan 16, such that the nozzles 14 eject jets, i.e. streams of air at such a speed that the layer of air closest to the foil strip 11 is broken, which considerably improves the heat transmission.
The entire apparatus is accommodated in an insulated casing 17, which also contains a cooling battery 18, to which the suction side of the fan 16 is connected.
WO 98/49505 PCT/SE98/00735 As indicated by dashed lines in the drawing, a second foil strip 19 can be passed essentially parallel with the supporting belt 7 and the foil strip 11 from a storage roll 20 to a receiving roll 21. By means of resiliently suspended deflecting rollers 22 and 23, the second foil strip 19 can be made to follow a path which connects to the top faces of the food products 6 conveyed on the foil strip 11 and the supporting belt 7 along the upper run 12.
The foil strip 19 is also pressed down towards the top face of the food products 6 by means of jets of cold air, which are directed by the nozzles 24 towards the upper side of the second foil strip 19. Like the nozzles 14, nozzles 24 constitute outlets from a duct 25, which can be connected to the outlet side of the fan 16 or to the outlet side of a correspondingly arranged fan, such that the jets of cold air from the nozzles 24 press the second foil strip 19 into good contact with at least an essential part of the top faces of the products 6 and, thus, rapidly freeze the surface layer closest to the foil strip 19.
In the above embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the supporting belt 7 and the foil strip 11 constitute a non-foraminous conveyor belt, which supports the food products 6 and towards the underside of which in the upper run 12 the jets of cold air are blown from the nozzles 14. In an alternative embodiment, a nonforaminous belt of metal or some other material could replace the belt 7 and the strip 11 and on its own constitute the non-foraminous conveyor belt.
In the above embodiment of the inventive apparatus, the foil strip 19 forms in the same manner a non-foraminous cover belt, which in an alternative embodiment could be a belt of metal or some other material having good thermal conductivity.
Q:\OPER\GCP\73538c.doc.20/10/00 The reference numerals in the following claims do not in any way limit the scope of the respective claims.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
o*

Claims (9)

1. A method of freezing a surface layer of a food product c ha r a c t e r i s e d in that the food product is placed on a non-foraminous conveyor belt 11), and that cold air in the form of jets is blown towards the underside of the non-foraminous conveyor belt.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t eri sed in that the cold air in the form of said jets is blown towards the underside of the non-foraminous conveyor belt 11) in a stationary area, which extends over the width of the non-foraminous conveyor belt, and that the non-foraminous conveyor belt is successively moved past the stationary area.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a superposed, non-foraminous cover belt which is positioned above the non-fora- minous conveyor belt 11), is moved in parallel there- with, and that cold air in the form of jets is blown towards the upper side of the superposed, non-foraminous cover belt.
4. An apparatus for freezing a surface layer of a food product characterised by a non- foraminous conveyor belt 11) and a plurality of sta- tionary nozzles (14) for blowing cold air in the form of jets towards the underside of the non-foraminous conveyor belt in an area which extends over the width of the non- foraminous conveyor belt. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the non-foraminous conveyor belt 11) comprises a non-foraminous foil strip (11) supported by a foraminous supporting belt
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the non-foraminous conveyor WO 98/49505 PCT/SE98/00735 belt is a single non-foraminous belt of metal or some other material having good thermal conductivity.
7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4-6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by a superposed, non-foraminous cover belt which is arranged above the non-forami- nous conveyor belt 11) to cover a food product positioned on said conveyor belt, and a plurality of additional stationary nozzles (24) for blowing cold air in the form of jets towards the upper side of the super- posed, non-foraminous cover belt.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the superposed, non-foraminous cover belt (19) is a non-foraminous foil strip.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, c h a r 15 a c t e r i s e d in that the superposed, non-foraminous ing good thermal conductivity. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4-10, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it constitutes 20 a prefreezer for a freezer for complete freezing of the food product S11. A method of freezing a surface layer of a food product substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. An apparatus for freezing a surface layer of a food product substantially as hereinbefore described with S" reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 20th day of October, 2000 FRIGOSCANDIA EQUIPMENT AB By its Patent Attorneys S T4 15 DAVIES COLLISON CAVE
AU73538/98A 1997-04-25 1998-04-23 Method and apparatus for surface freezing Ceased AU728000B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE9701550 1997-04-25
SE9701550A SE9701550L (en) 1997-04-25 1997-04-25 Methods and apparatus for surface freezing
PCT/SE1998/000735 WO1998049505A1 (en) 1997-04-25 1998-04-23 Method and apparatus for surface freezing

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU7353898A AU7353898A (en) 1998-11-24
AU728000B2 true AU728000B2 (en) 2001-01-04

Family

ID=20406716

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU73538/98A Ceased AU728000B2 (en) 1997-04-25 1998-04-23 Method and apparatus for surface freezing

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0977970A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001527633A (en)
CN (1) CN1140754C (en)
AU (1) AU728000B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2288909C (en)
SE (1) SE9701550L (en)
WO (1) WO1998049505A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2762969B3 (en) * 1997-05-07 1999-06-25 Roger Dew CONTINUOUS FREEZING ENCLOSURE WITH SUPERIMPOSED REFRIGERATED TABLES
JP3671121B2 (en) * 1998-08-10 2005-07-13 プラクスエア・テクノロジー・インコーポレイテッド Collision cooling device
SE515811C2 (en) * 1999-01-20 2001-10-15 Frigoscandia Equipment Ab Apparatus for gas treatment of products comprising a high pressure chamber
WO2001004554A1 (en) * 1999-07-07 2001-01-18 Roger Dew Quick-freeze tunnel for food products with non-continuous driving film
US6334330B2 (en) 1999-07-26 2002-01-01 Praxair, Inc. Impingement cooler
FR2808080B1 (en) * 2000-04-25 2003-04-25 Paul Tondeux DEVICE FOR OPTIMIZING THE CONTINUOUS FREEZING OF BULK PRODUCTS, INDIVIDUALLY, AN INSTALLATION EQUIPPED WITH SAID DEVICE AND APPLICATION OF SAID DEVICE
JP2003061633A (en) * 2001-08-30 2003-03-04 Ip:Kk Food freezer
US6557367B1 (en) 2002-03-28 2003-05-06 Praxair Technology, Inc. Impingement cooler with improved coolant recycle
CN1295471C (en) * 2005-01-28 2007-01-17 南通冷冻设备有限公司 Freezing device
CN100453935C (en) * 2007-06-27 2009-01-21 浙江海洋学院 Revolving drum type quick-freeze device
JP5486513B2 (en) * 2010-06-30 2014-05-07 株式会社前川製作所 Food cooling equipment
DK2955466T3 (en) 2014-06-13 2020-03-16 John Bean Technologies Ab TEMPERATURE TREATMENT DEVICE AND PROCEDURE FOR STRENGTHENING LIQUID PORTIONS
CN107821910A (en) * 2017-12-01 2018-03-23 上海海洋大学 A kind of elongate strip funnel-form fluidic nozzle configurations
CN107763942A (en) * 2017-12-01 2018-03-06 上海海洋大学 A kind of impact type quick freezing machine Circular Jet nozzle arrangements
CN109140861A (en) * 2018-08-06 2019-01-04 湖州日晨生态农业开发有限公司 A kind of fresh-water fishes quick-freezing plant

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1595552A (en) * 1977-02-18 1981-08-12 Frigoscandia Contracting Ab Methods for the heat treatment of products and apparatus for carrying out the method
GB2141813A (en) * 1983-05-21 1985-01-03 Star Refrigeration Cooling apparatus
US5551251A (en) * 1995-02-08 1996-09-03 York Food Systems Impingement freezer

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5543167A (en) * 1995-01-05 1996-08-06 Fujitetsumo Co., Ltd. Cooked rice freezing method and apparatus

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1595552A (en) * 1977-02-18 1981-08-12 Frigoscandia Contracting Ab Methods for the heat treatment of products and apparatus for carrying out the method
GB2141813A (en) * 1983-05-21 1985-01-03 Star Refrigeration Cooling apparatus
US5551251A (en) * 1995-02-08 1996-09-03 York Food Systems Impingement freezer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2288909A1 (en) 1998-11-05
SE506959C2 (en) 1998-03-09
SE9701550D0 (en) 1997-04-25
CN1140754C (en) 2004-03-03
EP0977970A1 (en) 2000-02-09
WO1998049505A1 (en) 1998-11-05
CN1257573A (en) 2000-06-21
JP2001527633A (en) 2001-12-25
AU7353898A (en) 1998-11-24
CA2288909C (en) 2007-01-23
SE9701550L (en) 1998-03-09

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