FR2688874A1 - Machine for manufacturing blocks of ice of "crystal" quality - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for manufacturing crystalline ice in a slab or cube, including a coating used for moulding the slab or cube, a cooling circuit with evaporator, an electronic supply and control circuit, means for supplying and draining water, characterised in that it is composed, in particular, of: - a dismountable casing (5) with a fixed back panel (12) and three removable side panels and a bottom (3) containing the evaporator, - a fixed lower frame and a removable and lockable upper frame for holding the panels, - a watertight tank which can be applied inside the casing and against its walls, - a lid articulated on the casing, - at least one device for stirring the water, which device is placed in the tank.

Description

 The present invention relates to an ice-making device, more particularly for the manufacture of blocks or loaves of crystalline ice.

 We have known for a long time machines delivering ice cream bars intended to supply campers, restaurateurs and other food trades.

 The main drawback of these machines is that they produce an opaque and non-homogeneous glass. In addition they are often of industrial size not adaptable to the needs of artisans.

 Other disadvantages ...

 An object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

 Another object is to design a machine, of reduced capacity, producing a perfectly translucent ice, and equipped with means intended to facilitate the filling of the water then the handling of the ice bread obtained.

The aforementioned aims are achieved by means of the manufacturing device according to the invention, device comprising a box serving for molding bread or ice cube, a refrigerating circuit with an evaporator, an electrical supply and control circuit, supply and supply means. water drainage, characterized in that it consists in particular of
- A removable box with a fixed back panel and three removable side panels and a bottom containing the evaporator.

 - A lower fixed frame and a removable frame and upper locking to hold the panels.

 - A waterproof tarpaulin applicable inside the box and against the walls thereof.

 - A hinged cover on the box.

 - At least one water stirring device, device placed in the cover.

 In addition, the box -is fixed on a recovery tank, itself fixed on a rolling chassis carrying the refrigeration and electrical circuits.

The invention will be better understood using the description below made with reference to the following appended figures
- Figure 1: front view of the entire machine according to the invention.

 - Figure 2: side view of the machine of Figure 1.

 - Figure 3: section on A-A of the machine of Figure 1.

 - Figure 4: detail, sectional view, of a lower angle D of the machine.

 - Figures 5, 6 and 7: demolding steps, and handling of the ice bread obtained.

 - Figure 8: partial section of the machine tank.

 - Figure 9: detail of the lock and hinge of the machine cover.

 - Figure 10: refrigeration diagram.

 - Figure 11: diagram of the electrical circuit.

 The device mainly consists of a box (5) with evaporator (3), a refrigeration unit (2), carried by a supporting frame (1) preferably mounted on casters.

 In addition, the device comprises a compartment for recovering leakage water in the form of a thermally insulated tank (6), inserted between the bottom of the box and the chassis.

 The tank, fixed to the chassis, carries on its upper part, and fixed inside its vertical side walls, a non-removable rectangular frame (11).

 Inside the tank (6), spacers (4) of insulating material are provided supporting the bottom of the box (5).

 The bottom of the box (5) consists of the evaporator t3) itself, of rectangular shape.

The box still has
- A vertical back panel (12), fixed to the lower chassis (11) and carrying at its upper part hinge pins (13) for a cover (14).

 - Three removable panels (7, 8 and 9) which are placed vertically in the intervals between the fixed lower frame (11) and the bottom (3); the panels (7, 8 and 9) forming, in the mounted position with the back panel, the side walls of the parallelepiped box.

 - A lockable upper retaining frame (10) which, in the abaåssee position, holds panels between them.

 Each panel (7, 8, 9 and 12) as well as the cover (14) have a composite constitution with a thickness of thermal insulator (15), for example a rubbery foam with closed cell, taken between two bordered sheets (16, 17).

 Expansion spacers (18) made of insulating material, arranged in the insulator (15) prevent any contact between the sheets (16, 17), therefore the thermal bridges, during the thrust due to the expansion of the ice.

 For this purpose, the total width of the edges (20, 21) is less than the thickness of the spacers (18).

 The evaporator (3) is formed by a flat housing (22) filled with mastic (24) with thermal contact through which an evaporator coil (25) passes. There is provided, at the periphery of the housing (22), a shoulder for installing the panels (7, 8, 9 and 12).

 The evaporator is for example screwed onto the spacers (4), themselves screwed onto the bottom of the tank (6).

 A tarpaulin (27), parallelepiped, with the internal dimensions of the box (5) and intended to receive the water and to seal the box, is held by removable magnetic pieces (28) attracted by magnetic sheets (26) arranged in the panels.

 The back panel (12) carries two rear stops (29) projecting towards the outside of the box and fixed at the top of said panel (12).

 For locking the frame (10) in the raised or lowered position, holes (31) are respectively provided in the back panel (30) and in the stops (29) in which hooks, pins or the like are placed. frame able to pivot around the axis of rotation (13) situated in a horizontal plane offset downwards relative to the upper edge of the panels (7, 8, 9 and 12).

 The hinges (33) also pivot around the axis (13) and are shaped to raise the cover or let it rest by gravity on the upper edge of said panels t7, 8, 9 and 12).

 In the open position, the cover (14) rests on the stops (29) by the cut sides (32) of the hinges so as to be inclined towards the rear in a stable rest position (see FIG. 5).

We still plan in the box
- a float not shown to control the water level, float controlling a tap.

 - An overflow connected to a circuit connected to the tank (6) before flowing to a drain.

 - Ducts passing through the back panel (12) for the passage of easements.

 - At least one means of stirring the water, for example with a pump or a propeller. Depending on the shape to be obtained, the position of the stirring means will be modified.

 To split the ice bread, we can have removable partitions in the tarpaulin and multiply stirring means.

The water contained in the cover is cooled
- Directly through the bottom of the cover by contact with the evaporator (3).

 - By thermal bridge made by means of the shoulder (23) of the evaporator and propagation of the cold on the internal sheets (17) of the panels. The thickness of the shoulder (23) is sufficient so that the edge (21) of the sheet (17) always remains in contact with said shoulder during the movements of the sheets (17) caused by the expansion of the ice.

 In addition, the thickness of the shoulder should not be too great to limit the propagation in the cold in order to avoid the imprisonment of a pocket of water by the ice, pocket which would cause an irreparable opacity in the heart of the bread of ice.

 In order to facilitate the exit of the ice cream loaf, and its release from the mold, provision may be made for a handling device which may have several alternative embodiments.

 In a first variant, care is taken to interpose, before filling the sheet, two transport straps (34) terminated by loops (35) between the tank and the box.

 To take out the ice cube wrapped in its tarpaulin, it suffices to pass a bar (36) through the loops (35), lift the assembly and then place it on a base.

 We can then remove the tarp.

 In a second variant, care is taken to have at least two anchors (37) on the surface of the water. The anchors (37) are for example plates fitted with hooks (38) for better holding of the ice, and upper holes (39) for the passage of a bar such as (36) and kept aligned and out of the level water by any suitable means.

 For removing and removing the ice cube, proceed as above.

The device is further improved (see Figures 5, 6 and 7) by providing
- A device (40) for removing the ice cube.

 - A device (41) for transporting the ice cube.

 The ice cube dispenser (40) is an open frame (42) with two vertical feet (43), the two arms of the open frame of which can slide on the lower frame (11) of the box from a storage position for which the feet (43) come against the frame (1) up to a working position for which the feet (43) are separated from the frame and the frame arms (42) locked in the frame (11) by pins (44).

 The bar (36) carrying the ice cube can be placed on this frame in the working position and the cover can easily be removed.

 The ice transport device (41) is a carriage with a removable and / or tilting table (45) by means of a set of pins (46).

 We place the ice cube on the table (45) where we strap it then we can either transport it by adding removable handles (47) or tilt it and put it on the ground where we can work, sculpt it, etc. .

 The refrigeration circuit used (see Figure 11) is a conventional circuit with compressor (48), fan (49), ventilated condenser (50), filter drier (51) pressure sockets (52), filter (53) and pressure reducer (54) (The assembly being contained in the chassis 1), and an evaporator coil contained in the bottom of the box (5).

 The electrical circuit of Figure 12 is a conventional electrical circuit for the power supply and the control of the above refrigeration circuit.

 The operating time of the machine depends on the thickness of the ice cream loaf to be produced. This time can be reduced by adding ice waste to the tarpaulin water.

The advantages of the invention are manifold and in particular
- Easy to use and clean.

 - Production of a translucent ice whose latent heat gives it a much slower melting than that of opaque ice which is less homogeneous.

 - Easy handling of the ice bread.

 - Standardized machine manufacturing.

 - Standardized bread dimensions which allow greater achievement by sticking bread together.

 - Possibility of splitting the bread by adding partitions in the tarpaulin.

Claims (5)

1. Device for the production of crystalline ice into bread or ice cube comprising a box used for molding bread or ice cube, a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator, an electrical supply and control circuit, means for supplying and draining the water, characterized in that it consists in particular of  - A removable box (5) with a fixed back panel (12) and three removable side panels and a bottom (3) containing one evaporator.  - A lower fixed frame and a removable frame and upper lock to hold the panels.  - A waterproof tarpaulin applicable inside the box and against the walls thereof.  - A hinged cover on the box.  - At least one water stirring device, device placed in the tarpaulin. 2. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that it is fixed to a recovery tank (6) itself on a chassis (1) rolling carrying the refrigeration and electrical circuits. 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one lifting device (34, 37) of the ice cube. 4. Device for depositing the ice cube for a manufacturing device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an open frame (42) with their feet (43), the two arms of the sliding frame on the fixed lower frame (11 ) of the machine between a storage position and a working position.  5. Transport device for a manufacturing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is composed of a removable table support by set of pins and can be at will separated from the support or tilted by report to it, table on which the ice cube is securely strapped.