WO2015197754A1

WO2015197754A1 - Machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product

Info

Publication number: WO2015197754A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/064355
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sergio Zanolin
Original assignee: Sergio Zanolin
Priority date: 2014-06-27
Filing date: 2015-06-25
Publication date: 2015-12-30
Also published as: EP3160253A1

Abstract

A machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product (7), comprises a container (3) for the dose of a food product (7), an evaporator (1) having a compartment (2) for housing the container (3), and a pneumatic means (6) for mixing the dose of product (7), which is configured and arranged so as to favour the accumulation of the dose of product (7) towards the inner walls of the container and the incorporation of air in the dose of product during the cooling of the dose of product (7).

Description

MACHINE WITH A REFRIGERATION CYCLE FOR COOLING A DOSE OF A LIQUID OR SOLID FOOD PRODUCT

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a machine with a refrigeration cycle and to a method for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product, particularly, but not necessarily, a dose of ice cream.

Machines with a refrigeration cycle comprising a cooling evaporator where a food compound is poured in order to be processed by means of a special mechanical stirrer for preparing ice cream have been widely available in the market for some time.

One of the critical aspects of traditional ice cream machines is tied to the capacity of the mechanical stirrer to churn the product while favouring the incorporation of air in the shortest time possible during cooling of the product itself.

It has in fact been shown that the final product is all the more palatable and of a pleasing texture the more rapid the churning step is.

The mechanical stirrer is generally equipped with a mechanical paddle, which while stirring the product pushes it against the cold walls of the evaporator.

One drawback of the mechanical paddle is due to the fact that at the end of the treatment, part of the product remains adherent to the surface of the mechanical paddle or trapped in the interstices thereof and can be recovered only thanks to a tedious operation of manual scraping. Sometimes this tedious operation is avoided, with a consequent waste of product. The technical task set by the present invention, therefore, is that of producing a machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product which enables the aforesaid technical drawbacks of the prior art to be eliminated.

Within the scope of this technical task, one object of the invention is to provide a machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product which makes it possible to impart the desired organoleptic properties to the final product while having a simple, solid construction and an extremely efficient performance in terms of productivity.

The technical task, as well as these and other objects according to the present invention are achieved by providing a machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product, comprising a container for said dose of food product and a evaporator having a compartment for housing said container, characterized in that it comprises a pneumatic means for mixing the dose of product contained in the container housed in the housing compartment, said pneumatic mixing means being configured and arranged so as to favour the accumulation of the dose of product towards the inner walls of the container and the incorporation of air into the dose of product during the cooling of the dose of product.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the container has a closure lid which delimits a closed chamber for containing the dose of product. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pneumatic mixing means comprises one or more fluid injectors positionable inside said container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, ail of the injectors provided are configured as hollow needles having a tip for perforating said lid.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, ail of the injectors provided are supported above the housing compartment by a head that is movable vertically between a position adjacent to and a position remote from the housing compartment. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, all of the injectors provided are movable between a safety position, in which they are retracted inside the head, and a position of use, in which they project from the head.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, all of the injectors provided have at least one hole for dispensing in the direction of a longitudinal axis thereof.

In a different preferred embodiment of the invention, all of the injectors provided have at least one hole for dispensing in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis thereof.

In a different preferred embodiment of the invention, all of the injectors provided have at least one hole for dispensing in a tangential direction relative to the longitudinal axis thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises a circuit for supplying the fluid to all of the injectors providing, comprising a tank for the fluid under pressure, a shut-off valve and possibly a feed pump. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid is a gas selected from among carbon dioxide, air or any other type of gas suitable for obtaining the result.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine is a machine for making ice cream.

The present invention also discloses a method for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

- placing the dose of product to be cooled inside a container having a closure lid

- positioning the container in a housing compartment provided in an evaporator of a machine with a refrigeration cycle

- activating the evaporator to cool the dose of product

- introducing into the container one or more fluid injectors provided with a tip by perforating the lid with the tip of said one or more injectors

- supplying the injectors with the fluid

- mixing the dose of product by means of the fluid supplied to the injectors in such a way as to favour the accumulation of the dose of product towards the inner walls of the container and the incorporation of air into the dose of product.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method of cooling further comprises a step of extracting all of the injectors provided with a movement opposite that of introduction and, during the extraction, a step of scraping by means of the wall of the holes created by the tip of all of the injectors provided, so as to detach the residual part of product adhering to the outer surface of all of the injectors provided. The machine in accordance with the invention can have application both in a domestic and professional setting.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shape and volumetric capacity of the container is adapted to that of a cup for packaged products of the type commonly available on the market.

The injectors are particularly suitable for performing the mixing operation without sharing the drawbacks of traditional mechanical stirrers due to the presence of paddles.

Other characteristics of the present invention are also defined in the claims hereinbelow.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but non-exclusive embodiment of the machine with a refrigeration cycle according to the invention, illustrated by way by of non- limiting example in the appended drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of the part of the machine with a refrigeration cycle comprising the evaporator and the pneumatic mixing means in a position of non-use;

figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of the part of the machine with a refrigeration cycle comprising the evaporator and the pneumatic mixing means in a position of use during cooling;

figures 3a, 3b and 3c show an axial sectional view of some variants of the injector needles.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, they show a machine with a refrigeration cycie designed to cool a dose of a liquid or solid food product.

Below we shall make reference to the preferred application, in which the machine with a refrigeration cycle is an ice cream maker for making ice cream in individual portions.

The components of the machine's refrigeration cycle comprise, as is known, an evaporator 1 and, not shown in the appended drawings, a compressor, a condenser provided with a cooling fan and an expansion device. The body of the evaporator 1 defines a compartment 2 for housing a container 3 containing the dose 7 of product to be prepared.

The surface of the housing compartment 2 is cooled by the refrigerant fluid used in the refrigeration circuit and circulating inside a suitable duct that is fashioned inside the body of the evaporator 1 and extends between an inlet route 5 and an outlet route 4.

The container 3 has an outer shape mating that of the housing compartment 2, so that the outer surface of the container 3 is entirely or at least prevalently in contact with the cooled surface of the housing compartment 2.

In particular, the container 3 has a truncated cone-shaped lateral wall 3 having an axis N, a bottom 3b which closes off a base of the lateral wall 3a and a lid 3c which closes off the other base of the lateral wall 3a, thus delimiting a closed chamber for containing the dose of product 7.

The lateral wall 3 a and the bottom 3b are made in one piece and have a greater wall thickness than the lid 3c, which is formed by a thin layer suitable for being perforated fixed along the perimeter edge of the associated base of the lateral wall 3a.

The housing compartment 2 is consequently formed by a truncated cone-shaped wall 2a having an axis M and mating with the lateral wall of the container 3, and a bottom 2b mating with the bottom 3b of the container 3.

The evaporator 1 is disposed with the axis M of the housing compartment 2 oriented perpendicularly to a horizontal rest surface 9.

The container 3 is thus positioned in the housing compartment 2 with the axis N of its truncated cone-shaped lateral wall 3a disposed coaxially with the axis M of the truncated cone-shaped lateral wall 2a of the housing compartment 2.

Advantageously, the machine comprises a pneumatic means 6 for mixing the dose of product 7 contained in the container 3 housed in the housing compartment 2. The pneumatic mixing means 6 is configured and arranged so as to favour the accumulation of the dose of product 7 towards the inner walls of the container 3 and the incorporation of air into the dose of product 7 during cooling of the dose of product 7 itself.

The pneumatic mixing means 6 comprises one or more fluid injectors 8 positionable inside the container 3. The fluid is a gas preferably selected from among carbon dioxide, air or any other type of gas suitable for favouring mixing.

The machine comprises a circuit for supplying the fluid to all of the injectors provided.

The supply circuit comprises a tank 14 for the fluid under pressure sealingly and suitably connected to the supply circuit, a shut-off valve 15 and possibly a feed pump 1 6.

The electronic controller of the machine controls the shut-off valve 15, the feed pump 16, if present, as well as, naturally, the evaporator 1 , and controls the coordinated activation thereof.

Figures 1 and 2 show two injectors 8, but in other applications a single injector 8 or more than two injectors 8 can be provided.

The injectors 8 are configured as hollow needles with a rectilinear axis L having a head 8a and a tip 8b for perforating the lid 3c.

The axis L of the needles is oriented parallel to the axes N, M of the truncated cone- shaped walls 2a, 3 a of the housing compartment 2 and of the container 3.

The needles in particular are supported by a head 10 positioned above the housing compartment 2.

The head 10 is translatable in the direction of the axis L of the needles between a position adjacent to the housing compartment 2, in which the needles penetrate from the lid 3c into the container 3, and a position remote from the housing compartment 2, in which the needles are outside and above the container 3.

The needles can be fixed on the head 10 and translate integrally therewith in the direction of the their axis L or, as shown, they can be in turn translatable relative to the head 10 in the direction of the their axis L between a safety position, in which they are retracted inside the head 10, and a position of use, in which they project from the head 10.

The specific shape of the needle can vary according to the application.

In figure 3a the needle has at least one hole 11 for dispensing in a radial direction, for example two rows of holes for radial dispensing set at different heights along the axis L of the needle, the dispensing holes of each row being angularly offset from one another by 90°.

In figure 3 b the needle has at least one hole for dispensing 11 in an axial direction, in particular a single dispensing hole 1 1 at the pointed end of the needle.

The needle illustrated in figures 3 a and 3b, at least along the portion of maximum penetration envisaged inside the container 3, has an outer surface that is either entirely cylindrical or conical, tapered toward the tip. Thanks to this characteristic of the needle, when the needle is extracted from the container 3 with a movement opposite that of introduction, the residual part of product adhering to the outer surface of the needle is scraped and detached by means of the wall of the hole 12 created in the lid 3 c by the tip 8b of the needle.

In figure 3c the needle has a more complex construction, since it has at least one hole for dispensing 1 1 in a tangential direction, for example two diametrically aligned holes for tangential dispensing designed to dispense in opposite directions. In this case the dispensing will determine a turbulent flow rising in a whirl from the bottom 3b of the container 3 and wrapping around the lateral wall 3 a of the container 3.

Depending on the distribution and direction of dispensing of the dispensing holes 1 1 it is possible to adapt the mixing regime to different needs.

To improve the mixing, the construction of the needle can also be more complex than that shown in figures 3a, 3b and 3c.

For example, it is possible to impart to the inner wall of the needle a Venturi tube configuration and to create at least one additional hole through which the product 7 is sucked into the needle by virtue of the negative pressure created inside the needle by the injected fluid.

Or, furthermore, it is possible to direct the outgoing fluid by means of a small turbine provided inside the needle. In this case it is also possible to key a mechanical paddle mixer onto the shaft of the turbine, externally to the needle, so as to have a combined mixing of a pneumatic and mechanical type.

The method for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product is briefly as follows. The container 3 with the dose of product 7 to be processed is placed by the user inside the housing compartment 2.

The user then enables the start of the processing by pressing a specific button on the machine.

On receiving the enabling command, the electronic controller actuates the downward movement of the head 10 until it reaches the position adjacent to the housing compartment 2: in this position the needles are still retracted inside the head 10.

After the head 10 reaches its final position, the controller actuates the extraction of the needles from the head 10.

During their motion of descent, the needles perforate the lid 3c of the container 3 and penetrate into the container 3.

In the meanwhile, the electronic controller has also already activated the evaporator

1 so as to cool the dose of product 7.

When the cooling function is active the electronic controller actuates the supply circuit by opening the shut-off valve 15 and activating the feed pump 1 6.

The fluid under pressure supplied to the needles is suitably directed by the latter so as to favour the accumulation of the dose of product 7 towards the cold inner the wall of the container 3 and the incorporation of air into the dose of product 7.

The product 7 is then mixed by the jet of fluid under pressure whilst its temperature is rapidly reduced: with this mixing operation one obtains a product 7 with an extremely pleasing texture and appearance.

At the end of the mixing the electronic controller stops the cooling and supply of fluid and actuates the raising of the head 10 and retraction of the needles inside the head 10,

During the extraction of the needles from the container 3, the wall of the holes made by the needles through the lid 3 c of the container 3 scrapes the outer surface of the needles, detaching the part of product still adhering thereto, which is thus recovered inside the container.

The machine as conceived herein is susceptible to many modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the invented concept; furthermore, all the details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements. For example the electronic controller can be replaced by a manually operated mechanical control device.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may in practice be of any type according to requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

1. A machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product (7), comprising a container (3) for said dose of a food product (7) and an evaporator (1) having a compartment (2) for housing said container (3), characterized in that it comprises pneumatic means (6) for mixing the dose of product (7) contained in the container (3) housed i the housing compartment (2), said pneumatic mixing means (6) being configured and arranged so as to favour the accumulation of the dose of product (7) towards the inner walls of the container and the incorporation of air in the dose of product (7) during the cooling thereof.

2. The machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said pneumatic mixing means (6) comprises one or more fluid injectors (8) positionable inside said container (3).

3. The machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said container (3) has a closure lid (3c) which delimits a closed chamber for containing the dose of product (7), and in that said one or more injectors (8) are configured as hollow- needles having a tip (8b) for perforating said lid (3c ).

4. The machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product according to either f claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said one or more injectors (8) are supported above the housing compartment (2) by a head (10) that is movable vertically between a position adjacent to and a position remote from the housing compartment (2).

5. The machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said one or more injectors (8) are movable between a safety position in which they are retracted inside the head (10) and a position of use in which they project from the head (10).

6. The machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said one or more injectors (8) have at least one hole (1 1) for dispensing in the direction of a longitudinal axis (L) thereof.

7. The machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said one or more injectors (8) have at least one hole (1 1) for dispensing in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis (L) thereof.

8. The machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said one or more injectors (8) have at least one hole (1 1) for dispensing in a tangential direction relative to the longitudinal axis (L) thereof.

9. The machine with a refrigeration cycle for cooling a dose of a liquid or solid food product according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a circuit for supplying the fluid to said one or more injectors (8), comprising at least a tank for the fluid (14) under pressure and a shut-off valve (15).

10. A method of cooling of a dose of a liquid or solid food product, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

- placing the dose of product to be cooled inside a container (3) having a closure lid (3c)

- positioning the container (3) in a housing compartment (2) provided in an evaporator (1) of a machine with a refrigeration cycle

- activating the evaporator (1) to cool the dose of product (7)

- introducing into the container (3) one or more fluid injectors (8) provided with a tip (8b) and perforating the lid (3c) with the tip (8c) of said one or more injectors

- supplying the injectors (8) with the fluid

- mixing the dose of product (7) by means of the fluid supplied to the injectors (8) in such a way as to favour the accumulation of the dose of product (7) towards the inner wall of the container (3) and the incorporation of air into the dose of product (7)

- extracting said one or more injectors (8) with a movement opposite that of introduction, in such a way that, during the extraction, the wall (12) of the holes created by the tip (8b) of said one or more injectors (8) performs a scraping action so as to detach the part of product adhering to the outer surface of said one or more injectors (8).