GB324490A - Improvements in freezing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

324,490. Cooke, A. H., and Atlantic Coast Fisheries Co. Dec. 28, 1928. Endless-chain conveyers with slat carriers ; cleaning-apparatus fitted to conveyers.-Apparatus for freezing comestibles, particularly whole orfilleted fish, comprises a series of plate-like carriers 10 mounted on an endless conveyer extending through a cooling-chamber 41, Fig. 2, the plate members having heat-conducting fins or webs 19, Fig. 5, depending into a bath 6 of refrigerating-liquid in the cooling-chamber so asto transmit the cold to the substances to be frozen, which do not come into contact with theliquid. The fish &c. are loaded on to the plates at a station 9, Fig. 2, and a door 47 in 'a compartment 46 of the chamber provides access tothe plates in order that large round fish may be firmly pressed flat by an operator before undergoing the freezing operation proper. The plates are conveyed through a thawing bath to release the fish &c. before reaching the discharge platform 25, after which the plates are cleaned by a rotary brush 36, Fig 4, and rinsed by sprays 40 in a housing 34 having rubber wipers 38, 39. The air of the chamber may be cooled by a refrigerator coil. The refrigerating-liquid is admitted through pipes 26, Fig. 7, to transverse headers 27 having outlets 28 arranged between the depending webs 19 as shown in Fig. 5 and adapted to cause the liquid to circulate above false bottom members 33 and in counterflow to the plates. The liquid is discharged through outlets 31 similarlv located in transverse headers 30 but below the false bottoms. Transverse stiffening webs 43 are provided below the plates, and the webs 19 may be roughened and stepped, as shown in Fig. 11, to improve, the conductivity. The plates are supported at the sides by brackets 13, 14, Fig. 5, having rollers running on tracks 15, 16, and an apron 21 may be provided along one or each edge to prevent liquid from reaching the fish &c. The brackets 13 are connected bv links 11 to a chain 1 supported from a rail 4. Small articles to be frozen, such as fillets, oysters, &c. may be loaded into open ended boxes placed on the plates.