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
  • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
  • A23B4/00—General methods for preserving meat, sausages, fish or fish products
  • A23B4/06—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
  • A23B4/062—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling the materials being transported through or in the apparatus with or without shaping, e.g. in the form of powder, granules or flakes
  • A23B4/064—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling the materials being transported through or in the apparatus with or without shaping, e.g. in the form of powder, granules or flakes with packages or with shaping in the form of blocks or portions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
  • A23B4/00—General methods for preserving meat, sausages, fish or fish products
  • A23B4/06—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
  • A23B4/066—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling the materials not being transported through or in the apparatus with or without shaping, e.g. in the form of powder, granules or flakes
  • A23B4/068—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling the materials not being transported through or in the apparatus with or without shaping, e.g. in the form of powder, granules or flakes with packages or with shaping in the 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
  • A23L3/361—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
  • A23L3/363—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling the materials not being transported through or in the apparatus with or without shaping, e.g. in form of powder, granules, or flakes
  • A23L3/364—Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling the materials not 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
• • 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
  • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
  • F25D31/001—Plate freezers

Definitions

• the present invention regards a device for unloading of vertical freezers, especially freezers for freezing offish and other seafood products, in accordance with the preamble of the appended Claim 1.
• This type of freezer is primarily intended for use on board fishing vessels, in particular factory trawlers, and comprises a freezing chamber for freezing fish in half blocks of around 20 kg, alternatively in whole blocks of around 40 kg. After the desired core temperature has been achieved in the blocks, the freezer must be unloaded and the blocks transported to storage on board the ship. Unloading of the freezer is effected by the floor of the freezer being lifted up to make the blocks protrude above the edges of the freezing chamber. Any partitions between the blocks are removed manually, and the blocks are lifted out by hand. The blocks are placed on trolleys or a conveyor belt for further transport.
• NO 149 941 there is described a vertical freezer in which the frozen materials disposed between the freezing plates may be carried upwards to make them freely accessible for removal from the freezer. No specific method is described for removing the freely accessible blocks.
• NO 309 957 describes an improvement by a vertical freezer, where the improvement comprises a draft that reduces the risk of interruption due to formation of ice in the freezer.
• the freezer described in this publication is a conventional vertical freezer in which the freezing plates may be moved relative to each other in order to facilitate loading and unloading.
• NO 140 689 describes a vertical freezer in which the freezing plates may be moved apart to allow the frozen materials to be removed by a separate removal mechanism.
• the removal mechanism described is a hoisting device that hoists a large number of blocks of frozen materials out of the freezer and carries them off for further processing.
• NO 119 685 also concerns a vertical freezer.
• the frozen materials between the freezing plates can be removed by lifting or lowering the freezing plates, whereupon they are pushed out by means of a special push device arranged on the side of the freezer, and then optionally placed on a conveyor belt.
• NO 109 835 also describes an unloading device for vertical freezers arranged on the side of the freezer, which may remove frozen materials from this.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a row of three freezers equipped with an unloading device according to the present invention
• Figure 2 is a sectional view along line A-A through a freezer according to Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along line B-B through a freezer according to Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is an end view of the freezer
• Figure 5 is a top view of a cutout of the freezer.
• Figure 6 is a side view of a cutout of the freezer.
• FIG 1 shows a perspective view of three freezers 1, 2 and 3 placed one after the other in a row.
• Each freezer comprises two freezing chambers 4 separated by vertical freezing plates 5.
• Each freezing chamber is divided into two by means of a partition 6.
• the freezing chambers are used for placing products to be frozen, e.g. fish.
• the fish is delivered via a conveyor belt arranged above the freezer. This is not shown in Figure 1.
• the blocks 7 are half blocks, i.e. each block extends only across half the length of the freezing chamber 4. If the partition is removed, whole blocks will form.
• Figure 2 shows a section through a freezer along line A-A
• figure 3 shows a section through the freezer along line B-B
• the freezer has a frame 8 into which the freezing plates 5 are fitted. Between the freezing plates is arranged a liftable and lowerable floor 9.
• the floor is connected to a lifting and lowering mechanism.
• one lifting and lowering mechanism 10 is provided on one side of the partition 6, and one lifting and lowering mechanism 11 on the other side of the partitions 6.
• the floors 9a on one side of the partitions 6 are connected to the same lifting and lowering mechanism 10, the lifting and lowering mechanism 10 extending along the entire length of the freezer.
• the floors 9b on the other side of the partitions 6 are connected to the same lifting and lowering mechanism.
• Each lifting and lowering mechanism 10 and 11 comprises a lifting bracket 12 provided underneath each floor 9a, 9b, a lifting beam 13 that extends underneath all the lifting brackets 12 and is connected to these and a lifting cylinder 14 at each end of the lifting beam 13.
• the lifting cylinder 14 acts between the frame 8 and the lifting beam 13. When the lifting cylinder 14 is actuated to contract, the lifting beam 13 and consequently the lifting bracket 12 and the floor 9, will lift.
• Each partition 6 is connected to a partition lifter 15, which is a beam extending along the entire length of the freezer. At each end, the partition beam 15 is connected to a cylinder 16, which upon actuation causes the partition beam 15 to be lowered, thus also lowering the partitions 6.
• a push arm beam 17 is provided along the freezers 1, 2 and 3, extending along the length of the freezers at one side of these.
• the push arm beam may be attached to the freezers 1, 2 and 3, or to the freezer foundation.
• On the opposite side of the freezers there is provided a conveyor belt or conveyor trough 18 that extends along the length of the freezers and on to a block 7 reception area.
• a push arm 19 is arranged so as to be able to travel along the push arm beam 17. This may be driven by a motor arranged at the inner end of the push arm 19, a wire draw or in another known manner.
• FIG. 4 shows an elevation of the push arm 19.
• Figure 5 is a top view of the push arm
• Figure 6 is a side view of the push arm.
• One or more pushers 21 are provided along the push arm 19. These are fixed to a continuous push belt 22 that extends across reversing wheels 23 at either end of the arm 19.
• the belt 22 is preferably operated by means of a motor 27 disposed by one of the reversing wheels 23.
• One or more chains may also be used instead of belt 22.
• the pushers 21 move along one side of the arm 19, around one of the reversing wheels 23, back along the other side of the arm and around the other reversing wheel 23.
• a reciprocating pusher may be provided, attached to e.g. a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.
• the trough 25 may be hinged to the curved track 20 or be formed as a separate trolley that follows the curved track 20 as the arm 19 moves along the freezer 1.
• the refrigeration plates 5 are heated to a temperature that causes the blocks 7 to detach from the freezing plates.
• the lifting cylinder 14 is actuated so as to lift the floor 9 between the freezing plates 5.
• the cylinders 16 are actuated, lowering the partitions 6.
• the lifting of the floors 9 and the lowering of the partitions 6 is adjusted so that when the floors 9 are lifted fully and the partitions 6 are lowered fully, the lower edges of the blocks 7 will be over the top of the partitions 6.
• the floors may be lifted approximately 30 cm while the partitions are lowered approximately 20 cm, leaving typical 50 cm blocks clear of the partitions.
• the side wall of the freezer 1 on the side where the blocks are pushed out is designed to be either lowered or removed, have the upper part hinged down or otherwise allow the blocks to pass.
• the push arm 19 is located by the front 24 of the freezer.
• the push belt 22 is put into operation, and shortly after, one pusher will strike the closest block 7.
• the block 7 will then be pushed across the freezer 1. This block will in turn push on the adjacent block, pushing this ahead.
• Both blocks are pushed out of the freezer and towards the curved track 20.
• the curved track 20 may be equipped with driving rollers that effect the transportation of the blocks down to the conveyor belt 18, but it is also possible for the blocks to slide along it solely through the force of gravity. When the blocks arrive at the conveyor belt, this will transport the blocks to a reception area for packing.
• the push arm will then be displaced along the push arm beam 17 to the next blocks in the freezer 1, pushing these out in the same way as before. In this manner, the whole freezer may be unloaded.
• the arm 19 is moved along the push arm beam 17 to the next freezer.
• the floor 9 When the freezer is empty, the floor 9 may again be lowered to the lower edge of the freezing plates 5, and the partitions 6 lifted to a position in which their tops align with or are located above the partitions. Re-filling of the freezer can then commence.
• the push arm is arranged to travel along a push arm beam running along one side of the freezer.
• the push arm may also run along two beams or rails, one on either side of the freezer.
• this beam or rail, or these beams or rails may be arranged above the freezer.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19912792

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2001
  • 2001-09-03 NO NO20014266A patent/NO312791B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2002
  • 2002-09-03 RU RU2004104630/12A patent/RU2259521C2/ru active
  • 2002-09-03 WO PCT/NO2002/000310 patent/WO2003021172A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-09-03 EP EP02758960A patent/EP1423654A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-09-03 ES ES02758960T patent/ES2270747T1/es active Pending
• 2004
  • 2004-02-23 IS IS7161A patent/IS2562B/is unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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