WO2000017589A1

WO2000017589A1 - Process for producing colored ice cubes and colored ice cubes thus obtained

Info

Publication number: WO2000017589A1
Application number: PCT/ES1999/000290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mª Teresa BENACLOCHE DOMINGO
Original assignee: Benacloche Domingo Ma Teresa
Priority date: 1998-09-17
Filing date: 1999-09-16
Publication date: 2000-03-30
Also published as: ES2142289B1; ES2142289A1; AU5983599A

Abstract

The process for producing colored ice cubes is based on the addition of certain additives (6) which, when mixed with pretreated water (1) intended to the fabrication of the ice cubes (12), provide an ice cube or ice piece having a predetermined color, said additives being coloring agents which are authorized to be used in the preparation of feed and refreshing beverages.

Description

COLOR ICE CUBE AND COLOR CUBE ELABORATION PROCEDURE AS OBTAINED

As its title indicates, it refers to a procedure for making colored ice cubes and colored cubes thus obtained, which consists in the preparation of a mixture of water with additives as colorants, in the acceptable proportions, which provide a coloration to the ice cube, gaining in eye-catching and ornamentation of the drinks or products it accompanies.

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To date, the ice cubes that are used, are the typical white or colorless cubes, that is, those that result from the application of water, taking a more or less transparent tone depending on the characteristics of the water used, with more or less minerals, salts, etc.

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Although this colorless ice cube has no major drawback, since it is widely known and used for many years, it lacks ornamental or striking properties, which only obtains useful properties, which are to cool the medium in the That

20 installs them, for example, in drinks, portable refrigerators, etc.

Some authors have devised, in order to provide these products with more attractive properties, as well as ornamental, spherical capsules, usually of plastic material, which inside

25 carry a quantity of water that is frozen by the means normally used, to subsequently be introduced into glasses with drinks or any other provision. Once the ice that it carries inside has melted and turned into water, they are picked up again, cleaned and can be reused, just by introducing them back into a freezer or similar. The

30 glass or liquid in which it is introduced wins in eye-catching, since they can be combined or matched with the colors of these covers that in the meantime are cooling the medium in which they are found.

The disadvantage of these capsules is that no matter how hygienic this plastic is, it must be taken into account that in many cases they are put

SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26 in contact with the mouth of some users, and then through reuse they get back in touch with those of others, which does not mean a pleasant feeling for many of them, in addition, that these plastics have a very limited life, in so much so that, due to contact with different liquids and media, they can take certain dirt, impurities, etc.

On the other hand, the water that is introduced into the interior, no matter how vacuum it is, there is always a risk of infiltrations of air, water, etc., deteriorating the characteristics of the water it carries, since there is no regeneration of the same. It follows that, for a healthy use of these products, it is necessary not to reuse them, assuming a more or less considerable cost added to that of the refreshing beverage. Other times, they must be replaced by the owner, while it is likely that the same consumer of the drink can take them without returning them.

With the use of the process of making colored ice cubes and colored cubes thus obtained, object of the present invention, it is intended to avoid all the aforementioned drawbacks.

It is that during the process of making the cube, a dye is inserted into the process, of the additives and technological adjuvants authorized in the preparation of refreshing beverages, which in the proportions indicated and allowed, are mixed with the water destined to the elaboration of the cube, being thus impregnated with the corresponding color, being able to even mix different tones to achieve the desired color and tone.

The procedure is very simple, while the application of complicated devices for mixing these components is not necessary, which does not make the final product more expensive. In addition, because they are pemutid dyes there is no risk or danger of their use and consumption, since in the end this ice cube can be consumed mixed with the medium or drink in which it is placed.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26 The color shade is what is desired, since as long as it does not exceed the established limits of the dye, it can be added to achieve lighter shades, not being fixed and slightly varied colors as it happened in plastic capsules. Therefore, a variety of different colors and tones can be achieved.

It has all the organoleptic characteristics of the traditional ice cube, plus that of the eye-catching, because you can combine the cubes to get the colors according to the effect you want to achieve, such as the colors of flags, equipment, etc.

Next, to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive report and as an integral part of it, a figure is attached in which the following has been represented by way of illustration and not limitation:

Figure 1.- Scheme of the procedure for obtaining colored ice cubes.

As can be seen in the figure, a water spout (1) is distinguished first, a flow that is passed through a water softener (2) and an osmosis plant (3) for water treatment, with a reservoir (4 ) of this water, to pass through one of the different colored water tanks (5), with a container for the dye (6), a dispenser (8) and a remover (7). This water passes through a circuit or conduit to a dye or another depending on the valve (9) that opens, to feed the water tank (10) of the machine (11) to make the cubes (12).

The operation is very simple, for this, it is based on a water supply (1), which, according to current procedures, is first decalcified by means of a descaler (2), to avoid lime deposits in the pipes, and then by an osmosis treatment (3), this treated water being taken to a tank (4) that feeds the entire circuit, regulating when the circuit is lacking water, allowing the water to pass in order to always keep a remnant of treated water in the circuit.

JA DE S TITUCIÓN EGLA 26 This tank (4) is connected with those of the dyes (5), so that it feeds these tanks with water, to which the dye (6) in question is also dosed, according to the desired color, controlled by a dispenser (8) that supplies the specific dose for each of these, deposits (5) without reaching the maximum allowed limits. While one of these circuits is not used, in order to avoid deposition of this dye, or unevenness in the homogeneity of the mixture, a mixer (7) is used that constantly keeps it ready for use.

The circuit of each option is commanded by two valves (9), which are commanded from a control panel, so that, only the passage of feed water to the tank (10), of the circuit whose passage valve (9) is allowed ) is open, providing colored water with the appropriate tone to the system.

This tank (10) stores the colored water, until the machine (11) making the cubes (12) requires it to form them. The device or cube machine (11), are those that are normally used in the market, which implies that more or less complicated or new machines or systems are not required, but can be served with what currently exists, being the colored cubes (12) that come out of this devices suitable for consumption.

First it is required to know the color and tone that you want to obtain in the ice cube (12), then the necessary dyes and additives (6) are prepared, so that by isolated or in combination of several, by means of the dispenser (8) which controls the amount emitted by each of the coloring additives (6) used, so that the authorized limits are not exceeded, provide said desired color in the final product (12). So it is only necessary that the dyes be changed, or the doses are modified, so that the ice cube changes color, tone or both at the same time.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26 The feeding of the dye tanks (5) is almost constant, since it is a tank with a certain water capacity, which has its corresponding dye dose (6). As there is a demand for this color, more water comes from the tank (4) and its respective amount of dye (6) dosed by the dispenser (8), always having the amount of colored water depending on the capacity of the tank (5 ), in which an agitator or mixer (7) is introduced to prevent stagnation.

Preferably, only one dye compound (6) will be prepared per deposit (5), so that this is the color that is desired to be obtained, without the need to combine several deposits (5), but the dye mixture is already placed in the same tank (6), regulating the dispenser (8) so that it does not exceed the allowed limits. Therefore, it is only necessary to open the valve (9) that passes to the circuit of the relevant color for the feeding of the tank of colored water (10) of the machine (11). This system can have one or more of these color deposits (5), depending on the amount of colors that you want to use.

Its application is simple, since starting from a water pipe (1), it is treated by decalcification (2) and osmosis (3) of the same, to be stored in the tank (4) to close the power circuit (1) When it is full and there is no demand. Then, depending on the color to be achieved, one of the valves (9) will be open by feeding the corresponding coloring circuit (5) and from it to the tank (10) of the machine (11) which will make cubes (12) of the corresponding color . At the same time, if colorless cubes are desired, you just have to close the valves (9) of the coloring circuits and open the valve (13) of direct passage of the treated water but without dye.

Once the nature of the present invention has been sufficiently described, as well as a practical application thereof, it only remains to be added that, both its form and the materials and execution thereof, are subject to modifications, provided they do not affect shape

Substantial to the characteristics claimed below:

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Claims

1.- Procedure for making colored ice cubes and colored cubes thus obtained, cubes of which are used to cool drinks, characterized in that, firstly, there is a water feeder circuit (1), flow that is passed by a water softener (2) and an osmosis plant (3) for water treatment, with a reservoir (4) of this water, to pass through one of the different colored water tanks (5), with the corresponding container for dye (6), a dispenser (8) and a remover (7) passing through a circuit or conduit to a dye or another depending on the valve (9) that opens, to feed the water tank (10) of the cubes making machine (11) (12).

2. Procedure for making colored ice cubes and colored cubes thus obtained, according to claim one, characterized in that, for the attainment of a color or color tone of the ice cube (12) it is directly provided by a single dye ( 6), either with the use of a single dye or if several are used so that the combination of these provide the required color or tone, provided that the authorized limits are not exceeded, for which it is provided with a doser (8 ) of the dye in question.

3.- Procedure for making colored ice cubes and color jubito thus obtained, according to claim one, characterized in that, the color deposits (5) have constant feed of treated water and the corresponding dye (6), which is dosed and mixed (7) in the same tank (5) awaiting demand by opening the valve (9).

4.- Procedure for making colored ice cubes and colored cubes thus obtained, according to claim one, characterized in that, for colorless cubes, all valves (9) of the respective coloring circuits are closed and a key is opened. step (13) that gives way to treated water without dye.

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