GB1559990A

GB1559990A - Machines for making ice cream shakes or whipped cream

Info

Publication number: GB1559990A
Application number: GB53620/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Apaw SA
Current assignee: Apaw SA
Priority date: 1975-12-22
Filing date: 1976-12-22
Publication date: 1980-01-30
Also published as: ES454873A1; PT65998A; NO764328L; NL7614159A; YU309676A; AU2082776A; ATA925476A; BR7608600A; DE2657534A1; DK575876A; NO140649C; SE7614151L; JPS52102482A; AT343695B; ZA767552B; NO140649B; IL51168A0; PT65998B; IT1053184B; FR2336089A1

Abstract

In order to prevent the reflux of already prepared soft ice-cream compound or of the ice-cream mixture which is still to be frozen from a freezing chamber (1) of the soft ice-cream machine into a source (11) of compressed air and automatically to maintain a set air pressure ratio between the freezing chamber (1) and a supply container (8), the freezing chamber (1) is releasably connected to the supply container (8) by means of an ice-cream mixture pipe (13, 15), which is guided into the supply container (8) and terminates just above the floor of the latter, and to the source (11) of compressed air by means of the upper part, which does not contain liquid, of the supply container (8) via a compressed air pipe (10, 17). The compressed air pipe (10, 17) has a flow-regulating valve (18) between the freezing chamber (1) and a connection which is present on the lid (108) of the supply container (8). The connections are designed as rapid-action couplings (12, 14, 16) which each contain a non-return valve (112,212; 114,214; 116,216). The said couplings automatically close during decoupling, so that there is no loss of pressure or outflow. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) MACHINES FOR MAKING ICECREAM, SHAKES OR WHIPPED CREAM (71) We, APAW S.A., a Joint Stock Company of Switzerland, of 74 Chemin Ritter, Fribourg, Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to ice cream making machines as hereinafter defined, and more particularly to soft ice cream making machines.

Ice cream making machines are known in which liquid ice cream mix is contained in a dosed supply tank which is connected through a pipe section extending from the tank to the mixing barrel of the machine. A pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source is injected into the supply tank and into the mixing barrel of the ice cream making machine. In such machines the mixing barrel and the ice cream mix tank are each connected independently through independent gas supply ducts to the pressurized gas source. This circuital arrangement has the great disadvantage that, in the case of a sudden pressure drop in the pressure gas supply ducts or in the pressure gas source ice cream or ice cream mix from the mixing barrel may flow back into the pressure gas supply circuit, and also into the pressure gas supply source.

It is one object of the present invention to obviate the disadvantage of the prior art ice cream making machines with pressurized liquid mix feed.

According to the invention there is provided an ice cream making machine as hereinafter defined comprising a mixing barrel, a compressed gas source, a liquid mix supply tank, first duct means connecting the compressed gas source to the liquid mix tank to a position in the tank above the level of liquid mix in the tank, when the machine is in use, second duct means connecting the liquid mix tank to the mixing barrel from a position in the tank above the liquid mix in said tank when the machine is in use, and third duct means connecting the liquid mix tank to the mixing barrel from a position in the tank below the level of the liquid mix in the tank when the machine is in use, wherein the second and third ducts are each connected to one branch of a T-joint, and the third branch of the T-joint is connected to the inlet of the said barrel.

The invention will now be described by way of Example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an ice cream making machine according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a diagram of the pressure gas and liquid mix circuit of the machine of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, and with particular reference to Figure 1, the ice cream machine shown comprises a mixing and freezing barrel 1, surrounded by the evaporator (not shown) of a freezing plant. Inside the mixing and freezing barrel 1, and coaxial therewith are mixing blades 2 carried by a rotatably journaled shaft 3, one end of which extends through an end of the barrel 1, and is connected, through a pulley-and-belt drive 5 to an operating motor 4. The opposite end of the barrel 1 is closed by a door provided with a dispensing device 6. Beneath the mixing and freezing barrel 1, a refrigerated cabinet 7 is formed into the frame of the ice cream machine. The cabinet 7 is closed by a suitable door, and is refrigerated by the freezing plant of the machine. Inside cabinet 7 the liquid mix tank 8 is disposed.The tank 8 is usually formed by a cylindrical stainless steel bottle, provided with a cover 108 which closes the upper end of the bottle in a gas-tight manner.

The liquid mix 9 is contained in the tank 8.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an air compressor, the output of which is connected through a duct 10, a hose 110, and a quick coupling joint 12 to the interior of the tank 8.

As best shown in Figure 2, the quick coupling joint 12 comprises a first joint element 212 which is secured to the cover 108 of the tank 8, and which opens into the dome of the cover 108, at a level above the level of the liquid mix 9 in the tank 8. The joint 12 also comprises a second joint element 112, fastened to the free end of the hose 110. Both elements 212 and 112 of the joint 12 are provided with shut-off valves, which are automatically urged into closed position whenever the joint is uncoupled, whilst they are automatically brought into the open position when the joint is coupled.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a pipe section which extends inside the tank 8 from a position slightly above the bottom of the tank 8 up to and through the cover 108. To the end of the pipe 13 which projects outside of the cover 108 a quick coupling joint 14 is secured. The joint 14 is formed like joint 12, into two elements 214 and 114, and operates similarly to joint 12. The joint element 114 is connected to one end of the hose section 115, the other end of which is connected to one end of a pipe section 15, the other end of which is connected to one branch of a Tjoint 20, a second branch ofwhich is connected through a pipe section 21 to the inlet of the barrel 1. The joint element 216 of a third quick coupling joint 16, is connected to cover 108 of tank 8, and opens into the tank 8 at a level above the level of the liquid mix contained in the tank 8.The joint 16 is similar to joints 12 and 14, and operates in a like manner as the said joints. The second joint element 116 of joint 16 is connected to one end of hose 117, the other end of which is connected through a pipe 17, with the interposition of a manually operable valve 18 and of a nonreturn valve 19, to the third branch of the T-joint 20. Numeral 22 denotes the motor-compressor unit of the freezing plant of the machine.

The operation of the machine will be evident. The tank 8 is connected by means of the joints 12, 14 and 16 to the lines 110, 115 and 117. With the compressor 11 in operation, compressed gas is fed via duct 10 and hose 110 into the dome of the tank 8, above the level of the liquid mix 9 contained in said tank. From here, the compressed gas flows through joint 16, hose 117, pipe 17, valve 18, valve 19, T-joint 20 and pipe 21 into the barrel 1 of the ice cream making machine. At the same time, the compressed gas cushion above the liquid 9 in the tank 8, urges the liquid mix 9 through pipe 13, joint 14, hose 115, pipe 15, T-joint 20 and pipe 21 into the freezing barrel 1. By adjusting valve 18, the desired air-toliquid ratio in barrel 1 is obtained.The said ratio is maintained unchanged even by variations in the gas pressure above the liquid mix 9.

If a back flow of ice cream and/or liquid from the barrel 1 occurs, the ice cream and liquid flowing back are again collected into the tank 8, without any danger to the compressor 11.

Although in the embodiment illustrated compressed gas flows from tank 8 to the barrel 1 by way of T-joint 20, if required, pipe 17 may be directly connected to the barrel I.

Although the said circuit has been shown as used in connection with the mixing and freezing barrel of an ice cream making machine, it will be evident that the same circuitry may be used for feeding the mixing barrel of a shake-making machine or a whipped cream making machine. The term "ice cream making machine" as used in the specification and appended claims is defined to cover machines for making ice cream, shake-making machines and whipped cream making machines. It will be apparent that shake-making machines or whipped cream making machines do not require a freezing plant.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An ice cream making machine as hereinbefore defined comprising a mixing barrel, a compressed gas source, a liquid mix supply tank, first duct means connecting the compressed gas source to the liquid mix tank to a position in the tank above the level of liquid mix in the tank when the machine is in use, second duct means connecting the liquid mix tank to the mixing barrel from a position in the tank above the liquid mix in said tank when the machine is in use, and third duct means connecting the liquid mix tank to the mixing barrel from a position in the tank below the level of the liquid mix in the tank when the machine is in use, wherein the second and third ducts are each connected to one branch of a T-joint, and the third branch of the T-joint is connected to the inlet of the said barrel.

2. An ice cream making machine as herein before defined comprising a freezing and mixing barrel, a compressed gas source, a liquid mix supply tank, first duct means connecting the compressed gas source to the liquid mix tank to a position in the tank above the level of liquid mix in the tank when the machine is in use, second duct means connecting the liquid mix tank to the freezing and mixing barrel from a position in the tank above the level of the liquid mix in said tank when the machine is in use, and third duct means connecting the liquid mix tank to the freezing and mixing barrel from a position in the tank below the level of the liquid mix in the tank when the machine is in use, wherein the second and third ducts are each connected to one branch of a T-joint and the third branch of the T-joint is connected to the inlet of the said barrel, 3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the compressed gas source is an air compressor, and the first, second and third duct means are connected to the liquid mix tank by means of quick coupling joints.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the second duct is provided with adjustable valve means for adjusting the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the free end of the hose 110. Both elements 212 and 112 of the joint 12 are provided with shut-off valves, which are automatically urged into closed position whenever the joint is uncoupled, whilst they are automatically brought into the open position when the joint is coupled. Reference numeral 13 denotes a pipe section which extends inside the tank 8 from a position slightly above the bottom of the tank 8 up to and through the cover 108. To the end of the pipe 13 which projects outside of the cover 108 a quick coupling joint 14 is secured. The joint 14 is formed like joint 12, into two elements 214 and 114, and operates similarly to joint 12. The joint element 114 is connected to one end of the hose section 115, the other end of which is connected to one end of a pipe section 15, the other end of which is connected to one branch of a Tjoint 20, a second branch ofwhich is connected through a pipe section 21 to the inlet of the barrel 1. The joint element 216 of a third quick coupling joint 16, is connected to cover 108 of tank 8, and opens into the tank 8 at a level above the level of the liquid mix contained in the tank 8.The joint 16 is similar to joints 12 and 14, and operates in a like manner as the said joints. The second joint element 116 of joint 16 is connected to one end of hose 117, the other end of which is connected through a pipe 17, with the interposition of a manually operable valve 18 and of a nonreturn valve 19, to the third branch of the T-joint 20. Numeral 22 denotes the motor-compressor unit of the freezing plant of the machine. The operation of the machine will be evident. The tank 8 is connected by means of the joints 12, 14 and 16 to the lines 110, 115 and 117. With the compressor 11 in operation, compressed gas is fed via duct 10 and hose 110 into the dome of the tank 8, above the level of the liquid mix 9 contained in said tank. From here, the compressed gas flows through joint 16, hose 117, pipe 17, valve 18, valve 19, T-joint 20 and pipe 21 into the barrel

1 of the ice cream making machine. At the same time, the compressed gas cushion above the liquid 9 in the tank 8, urges the liquid mix 9 through pipe 13, joint 14, hose 115, pipe 15, T-joint 20 and pipe 21 into the freezing barrel 1. By adjusting valve 18, the desired air-toliquid ratio in barrel 1 is obtained.The said ratio is maintained unchanged even by variations in the gas pressure above the liquid mix 9.

2. An ice cream making machine as herein before defined comprising a freezing and mixing barrel, a compressed gas source, a liquid mix supply tank, first duct means connecting the compressed gas source to the liquid mix tank to a position in the tank above the level of liquid mix in the tank when the machine is in use, second duct means connecting the liquid mix tank to the freezing and mixing barrel from a position in the tank above the level of the liquid mix in said tank when the machine is in use, and third duct means connecting the liquid mix tank to the freezing and mixing barrel from a position in the tank below the level of the liquid mix in the tank when the machine is in use, wherein the second and third ducts are each connected to one branch of a T-joint and the third branch of the T-joint is connected to the inlet of the said barrel,

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the compressed gas source is an air compressor, and the first, second and third duct means are connected to the liquid mix tank by means of quick coupling joints.

amount of air supplied to the said barrel.

5. An ice cream making machine as hereinbefore defined substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.