US2062277A - Frozen confection - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 24, 1936. A. c. RouTH FROZEN coNFEcTIoN Filed May 15, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. Almond C Pouth.

ATTORNEY.

IIvIIIV Nav. 24, 1936.

A. C. ROUTH FRQZEN CONFEGTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1955 fillr INVENTOR. ,4/mand C. Rauti.

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 24, 1936 PATENT oFFlcE FROZEN coNF'EcTloN Almond C. Routh, Sandusky, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The Girdler Corporation, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Delaware Application May 15, 1933, Serial No. 671.176

3 Claims.

In the manufacture, distribution and sale of ice cream, the well known general method of delivering it at the point ofsale, such as a soda fountain, in bulk, for example by the gallon in cans, and ladling it up to the consumer in small individual quantities or servings, has numerous disadvantages among which may be mentioned the irregularity in the amountserved to each consumer and the consequent irregularity in the number of servings which 4can be made from each gallo-n delivered', the non-uniformity of the serv-- ings, and the unsanitary conditions attending the repeated dippings into the open can for individual servings.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved small individual portion or. serving which may be delivered in that form at the point of consumption.

Another object is to provide an improved forni of ice cream package in relatively large unit pieces which may be subdivided into a number of saleable articles per unit piece, the number per piece being predeterminable but variable as desired in accordance with variations of price, quality, cost of manufactureetc.

Another object is to provide unit pieces as referred to which are of elongated form and wrapped in paper or the like whereby the articles produced therefrom are wrapped in sections of the piece wrapper.

Another object is to provide an improved wrapper of paper or the like for wrapping unit pieces of ice cream for supporting and protecting the same during the performance thereon of manufacturing processes or operations.

Another object is to provide an improved wrapped confection of the class referred to, the wrapper of which may be conveniently removed in a sanitary manner at the time of use.

Another 'object is to provide a unitary piece of ice cream or the like product which may be handled and upon which manufacturing processes or operations may be performed in an improved manner.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My inventionl is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and in which:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view partly in section of a part of a machine and apparatus whereby the improved product of my invention may be economically and satisfactorily manufactured;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view to an enlarged scale taken from the plane l3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are front elevational and side elevational views of a cutter mechanism which I may employ; 'A

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of Fig. 1 illustrating in elevation parts thereof illustrated in section and drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 7 is a view of a wrapper device which I may employ with the apparatus of Fig. 1 to form my improved product;

Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, front and side views of an ice cream confection which may be made by the apparatus illustrated in the preceding figures;

.,Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating a mode of removing a wrapper with which the confection of Figs. 8 and 9 maybe provided; f

Fig. 11 is a view similar to a part of Fig. 1 villustrating a modification;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a modification and drawn to the same scale as Fig. 11, the view' being taken approximately from the plane I2 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 isa perspective view of an individua service portion of ice cream of relatively greater length than that shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of a bar of encased ice cream embodying my invention and which may be cut into short individual service portions .the machine of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 18 and 19 are, respectively, front and side views similar to Figs. 8 and 9 but illustrating to reduced scale a confection whichmay be made by the' apparatus of my invention employing the modification of Fig. 17.

The apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings forms no portion of the invention hereinaf ter claimed, but is illustrated merely to make clear certain ways in which my improved product may be made. I have shown at I, Fig. 1, a container or hopperinto which may be poured a quantity of ice cream which has previously been frozen to a plastic consistency in an ice cream freezing apparatus not shown. I v

The ice cream may be frozen by a continuously operating apparatus discharging into the hopper I or it may be frozen in batches in individual ice cream freezing machines and poured by the batch into the hopper I. This part of the process forms no essential part of my invention except as providing means for supplying plastic frozen ice cream to a conduit 2 discharging from the hopper I.

'I'he conduit 2 has in the line thereof a pump I03 of the positive pressure type driven by an electric motor |04 supported on a base |05. The pump I03 may be of any suitable or known construction but is preferably of the type comprising intermeshing impellers.

By means of the pump |03, the ice cream is pumped under pressure through a conduit 3 into a chilling retort 4 of the elongated cylindrical form comprising a double outer wall indicated at 5 and 6 with a space 1 therebetween. Refrigerant is circulated through the space 1 by a refrigerating apparatus (not shown) but having conduits 8 and 9 communicating with the space 1 and conducting refrigerating medium from the refrigerating apparatus, through the space 1 and chilling the cylindrical space :I0 within the inner wall 6.

The conduit 3 communicates at one end of the retort 4 with the space I0 within the cylindrical wall 6 and the opposite end of the space I0 communicates with a discharge conduit I2. The conduit I2, by means of an elbow I3 turns at a right angle into the conduit I4, and the conduit 3 above described turns at a right .sangle through the elbow I5 to connect with the conduit 2.

A rotor is provided within the cylindrical wall 6 comprising a shaft I I projecting longitudinally therethrough, and toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1, through the conduit 3, elbow I5 and outwardly therefrom through a packing I6 and terminates in a bevel gear I1 meshed with a bevel gear I8 on a shaft I9 which is driven by the motor 4. The other end of the shaft II extends through the conduit I2 and elbow `I3 and through a packing I9. Bearings are provided inthe packings I6 and I9 whereby the shaft II may be rotated continuously.

The rotor II is' provided with a plurality o longitudinally spaced vanes or beaters 20-20 having at their radially outer ends Scrapers 2| adapted to scrape upon the inner wall 6.

The vanes or beaters 20 are shaped in the general nature of propeller blades to propel ice cream which is within the cylinder 6, toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1.

As will now be understood, the ice cream under the impulsion of the pump |03 is propelled through the conduit 3 into the cylinder 6 and out through the conduit I4 and while within the cylinder 6 is chilled to a relatively low temperature below that of the ice cream in the' hopper I by refrigerant in the space 1. The ice cream on the wall 6 is scraped oi by the Scrapers 2| and the ice cream as a mass is propelled forwardly through the retort 4, thoroughly mixing and moving the same to chill it uniformly throughout the mass thereof.

The conduit I4 joins a T 22 where it divides into a conduit 23 and a conduit 24 each of which, through an elbow, turns a right angle and connects with a pair of parallel conduit spouts 26 and 21 open at their outer ends and preferably cylindrical.

A two-way valve indicated vat 28 is provided in the T 22 and a handle 29 therefor provides for diverting ice cream propelled through the conduit I4 alternatively into the conduit 23 or the conduit 24.

By the apparatus thus far described, ice cream will be propelled through and out of the open end of the spouts 26 and 21 in a relatively hard state, preferably hard enough to retain the shape of a cylinder given to it by its passage through the cylindrical tubular spout 26; although, as will presently appear, it is one of the advantages of my invention that temperatures above the form-retaining temperature of the ice cream may be employed.

A table 28 is disposed under the spouts 26 and 21 and thereon is mounted a brake device 29. parts of which are shown to an enlarged scale separately in Figs. 3 and 6. The brake device is in general in the form a tube divided on a vertical axis, one-half, 30, being supported on the table 28 by a bracket 3I and the other half 32 being hinged as at 33 to the table, and normally constrained toward the stationary half by a spring 34. The brake device is Aaligned axially with the spout 26 and the end toward the spout is outwardly flared as at 35. The device 29 is disposed so that the extreme end of the spout 26 is adjacent to the flared portion 35.

The spout 21 is provided with a brake device 29 as illustrated for spout 26 but it has been omitted from the drawings for simplicity.

In Fig. '7 I have illustrated a wrapper in the general form of a cylindrical tube or bag with None endclosed. The wrapper may be made of paper or cellophane or any other suitable material, the desired qualities of which will appear hereinafter and may be made by rolling and folding in a manner which will be understood by those skilled in the art thereof.

The tubular or bag-like wrapper 36 is formed of such size as to slidingly telescopically fit over the spout 26 or the spout 21, as illustrated separately for the spout 21. The tubular wrapper 36 is provided in quantities, each being intended to be used but once as will appear hereinafter.

In the operation of the machine thus far described, the Wrapper 36 is telescoped over one of the spouts, say, the spout 26, to the full-on position illustrated for the spout 21. The twoway valve handle 29 is then turned in a direction to divert ice cream under pressure from the conduit I4 into the spout 26. As the ice cream is extruded from the end of the spout 26, it enters the bag-like wrapper 36 filling the bottom portion thereof and shoving it oil longitudinally from the spout. is thus projected into the hollow cylindrical brake device 29, the inner diameter of which is provided to substantially fit the outer surface of the wrapper 36. Due to the spring 34 which tends resiliently to radially contract the brake device, the inner wall of the brake device exerts a braking action on the Wrapper 36 sliding longitudinally therethrough.

As a result of this action, movement of the wrapper 3B is retarded which causes the ice cream to be pressed and packed thereinto solidly by the pressure which is extruding the ice cream. The walls of the brake device furthermore prevent bursting radially of the relativelyA fragile wall of the wrapper 36. When the Wrapper has been substantially filled and has therefore been moved substantially beyond the end cf the spout 26, the valve handle 29 is thrown in the other direction y which stops further extrusion of ice cream from the spout 26 and begins the extrusion thereof from the spout 21, upon which in the meantime The closed end of the wrapper 'f room or chamber of any suitable construction and `acusar?? `a wrapper 36 has been telescoped. 'I'he filled Wrapper on the spout 26 now projects beyond the outer end of the tubular brake device 29 as indicated in broken lines at 31 and further longi-g tudinal movement thereof stops. The projecting end 31 may now be grasped by an operator and pulled upon longitudinally whereupon the stopped stream of ic-e cream will break at the end of the spout 26'; and to facilitate the break, a suitable knife or tool may be inserted downwardly through a slot or slots 38 in the walls of the brake device.

To facilitate removal of the packed wrapper 36,

the hinged wall 32 of the brake device may be moved against the tension of the spring 34 as illustrated in Fig. 3 to remove all braking action thereof.

Upon removing the filled Wrapper 36, it may be slid longitudinally into an open ended pan 40 and then may be transported by a conveyer or by any other means not shown into a hardening mode of operation.

Itis well known in this art that ice cream after being frozen to a form sustaining consistency may .suitably be hardened by subjecting it for a suitable period of time to a low temperature and thereafter maybe handled like any solid for further processing or fabrication.

The apparatus and process thus far described thus produces cylindrical unitary pieces of ice cream material each enclosed in a wrapper of paper or the like and after hardening the same they may be handled like bars of any solid material. i

The next step inthe processof producing saletance equal to the desired thickness or lengths of th-e articles. 'I he unitary piece illustrated at 43 may be laid upon a table 44 and the gang of rotatingknives 42 may be lowered thereupon. In Fig. 5 is illustrated a means for driving the shaft 4| and for supporting the same, comprising arms 45 in the outer ends of which the shaft 4| is journaled, the inner ends of which are pivoted upon a bracket 46, the arms. and shaft normally being maintained in an elevated position by a spring 41. A pulley `48 on the shaft is,driven by a belt 49 which runs on a pulley 50 on a counter-shaftSl on the bracket 46. The counter-shaft has a second pulley 52 and a belt 53 thereon is driven by a motor 54. Thus the knives 42 maybe rotated in their elevated positionand when lowered will be rotatively driven and cut through the unitary piece 43, cutting it in to a plurality of sections.

The cut also passes through the cylindrical wrapper on Athe piece and -thus each [of the sections is provided with an annular peripheral cover of paper or the like fromwhich the wrapper 36 is made. In Figs. 8 and 9 is illustrated a. frozen confection or ice cream article 56 which may be made as just described comprising an ice cream @enter 51 and a Strip of wrapper 5a around the periphery thereof.

The article 56 may be packed in any suitable I manner at the factory and delivered in quantities packed in suitable cartons' to'the point of consumption, for example to a' soda fountain where they may bei kept chilledixi suitable refrigerating compartments.

Similarly, the articlell56 may be Soldlin small quantities for domestic consumption.`

In packing a plurality of the artcles 56 in a from the ice cream of the discs with the edge of the knife as illustrated at 6 |-6 The knife may then be laid aside and the two ends 6| may be grasped by the thumb and finger of each hand and peeled off of the ice cream center 51. This operation has` been .described herein in detail inasmuch as it is essential that the mode of operation for unwrapping frozen confections must not involve touching theice cream center4 with the fingers for obvious sanitary reasons.

In this connection it will also be noted that before serving the articles they may be handled for any purpose by picking them up between the thumb and fingers engaging only the paper peripheral cover.

The wrapper thus far. described and shown separately in Fig. 7 and contemplating the mode of operation vdescribedzan'd illustrated in connection with Figs; 8, 9 and l0, may be formed from sheet material and on the cylindrical portion thereof the edges of the material may be overlapped as indicated at 62 in Fig. 8 or at 62 in Fig-13; and the overlap may be made permanent by suitable adhesive.

The invention herein claimed is shown -in Figs.

14 and 15 wherein the paper from which thewrapper is made is similarly overlapped andsecured by suitable adhesive at 63 but the outer overlapping portion is extended beyond the overlap to form a flap 64. In this form, when it is desired to serve the ice cream, the 'flap 64 may be seized between the thumb and finger of the hand and pulled backward in the unwinding Adirection whereupon the-adhesive joint at 63 will be separated or opened and the paper cover or wrapper may be unwound from the ice cream. To this end, the adhesive at 63 maybe of a. na-

ture to hold the wrappers together during the manufacturing process, assisted by the natural adhesion of the paper to the ice cream therewithin, but may yield when .pulled upon by the ap 64 as described. v.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I-have' illustrated a modiiic'ation of apparatus.. In this form, the fric- 11 and 12, .the stationary part of the' friction 'device maybe adjusted to v align :the devices as a .whole properly Withthesp'Outs 2 6 and 21. ./fl4

suitable means 4is illustrated inv Fig. -3 where as shown the` .bracket 3| supporting thestationary portion 30 ispmountedon the table 2B b y a bolt 16 projectedthrough a slot 11 in'v the bracket 3| Awhereby the: bracket may be 'adjustabl'y r'noved on the table 28.*' A

In 'the-'manufacture' o'f my improvedproduct the body of ice cream may be provided with a center core of avoring material. In Fig. 17 I have illustrated a spout 26 having associated therewith a substantially coaxial tube 'I8 connected with a laterally disposed reservoir 'I9 of flavoring mixture. With a spout of this construction, the ice cream extruded from the spout 26, comprises a cylindrical shell `|30 of ice cream having a coaxial core 8| of iiavoring material as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. Otherwise the apparatus and mode of practicing my invention will be the same as that described hereinbefore.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 17 is described and claimed in the Herron Patent 2,042,940.

In Fig. 16 I have illustrated a further modiiication. In connection with Fig. 1 I have described the apparatus as comprising a supply reservoir or hopper l into which ice cream which has been frozen to a plastic state may be continuously supplied. In the form of Fig. 16, a reservoir is provided into which the liquid mixture from which the ice cream is to be made is supplied. Leading from the reservoir 90 is a conduit 9i, of any suitable length, communicating with a positive pump 92 driven by an electric or other motor 93, the pump discharging into a retort 4 as described in connectionwith Fig. 1. The conduit 9| is surrounded with 'a chilling pipe 94 connected to a refrigerator by terminals 95-95.

From this simplied showing, it is believed that the mode of operation of the form of Fig. 16 will be apparent. The pump 92 continuously pumps the liquid from the tank 90 at a predetermined rate, and as it ows through the conduit 9| it is chilled and frozen to a plastic state by the refrigerating coils 94 so that it is continuously delivered to the retort 4 in state to be chilled orfurther hardened thereby as was described more fully in connection with Fig. 1.

The essential difference between the form of Fig. 1 and that of Fig. 16 is that in the former the ice cream is partly frozen in a separate apparatus and delivered to the hopper I by batches whereas in the form of Fig. 16 it is continuously supplied to the hopper or reservoir 90 in liquid form.

In the foregoing I have referred to the spouts 26 and 21 as tubular and have illustrated the ice cream extruded therefrom as cylindrical. My invention is not limited to any particular form of spout and it may be made square in cross- 4section or have other desired cross-sectional shape, to extrude ice cream bars of corresponding shape. Similarly, the wrapper 36 may either be made of corresponding cross-section or may in every case be made generally cylindrical and due to its inherent flexibility caused to take up the shape of the spout upon which it is telescoped and of the relatively hard ice cream bar extruded into it. For these reasons the discform ice cream confections made from the bars may be square or have other shapes as desired.

I claim:

1. A frozen confection comprising an elongated bar of ice cream or the like enclosed within a tubular bag of paper or like material closed at one end, the tubular wrapper having a longitudinally extending laterally outwardly projecting wing of the wrapper material, the bar and wrapper being adapted to be cut transversely into separate portions each comprising a portion of ice cream in a peripheral wrapper comprising a portion of the wrapper material having a Aflap extending laterally therefrom adapted to facilitate removal of the peripheral wrapper from the ice cream servable portion.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially cylindrical bar of frozen comestible, said bar having a casing of sheet material covering the entire peripheral surface of said bar, the sheet material forming said casing having overlapping edge portions separably joined together along a continuous line spaced from the margin of the outer of the overlapping edge portions to leave a longitudinal iiap of substantially uniform width throughout the length of the bar,

4said bar and casing being adapted to be cut transversely into separate portions each comprising a portion of ice cream in a peripheral wrapper with a flap extending laterally therefrcm, whereby upon pulling on said ap the overlapping joined portions may be separated and the casing removed.

3. A frozen confection comprising a substantially cylindrical block of ice cream and a tubular wrapper of sheet material covering the entire periphery of said block, the opposite edge portions of said sheet material being overlapped and separably connected together along a continucus longitudinal line spaced from the marginal edge of the outer of the overlapping portions, whereby said last mentioned marginal portion constitutes a flap of substantially uniform width along the entire length of said block, and adapted to be grasped to peel the wrapper from said block.

ALMOND C. ROUTH.

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