WO2022084882A1

WO2022084882A1 - Cooling system

Info

Publication number: WO2022084882A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/059672
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard LEBLOIS; Maria Paola MERLONI
Original assignee: Tooa S.P.A.
Priority date: 2020-10-21
Filing date: 2021-10-20
Publication date: 2022-04-28

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling system for use in machines, in particular in machines for food products or pharmaceutical/cosmetic/chemical products, even more particularly for the home production of foodstuffs, for example a machine enabling the production of single portions of foodstuffs such as ice creams, mousses, sorbets, creams and so on. According to the invention, the cooling system (10) for a machine for processing a mixture comprises: - a central body (1) adapted to house the mixture and/or the products to be cooled, said central body (1) being made of material having a high thermal conductivity; - at least one Peltier cell (2) arranged laterally and/or inferiorly to a wall of said central body (1) and in direct contact with it; - cooling means (3) in a number corresponding to the number of said at least one Peltier cell (2) adapted to keep the temperature of said at least one Peltier cell (2) under control; said cooling system further comprising one or more assembly means (5) adapted to keep assembled said central body (1), said at least one Peltier cell (2) and said at least one cooling means (3), said assembly means (5) being provided with a certain elasticity.

Description

COOLING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a cooling system for use in machines, in particular in machines for food products or pharmaceutical/cosmetic/chemical products, even more particularly for the home production of foodstuffs, for example a machine enabling the production of single portions of foodstuffs such as ice creams, mousses, sorbets, creams and so on. The invention also relates to a machine, in particular a machine for food use, provided with such a cooling system .

The following description makes specific reference to food machines, in particular for the production of ice cream, however the Applicant specifies that this cooling system is not intended to be limited to the use in food machines, but may be applied for cooling any type of cream or product .

As is well known, there are different types of machines for processing products, in particular ice creams, both at industrial level, which allow the production of large quantities of ice cream, and at domestic level, for the production of smaller quantities .

These machines for the production of ice cream require operators and/or users to insert the appropriate ingredients and/or food preparations into a container. Subsequently, once actuated, the machines perform the function of mixing or "stirring", by means of a special device for mixing and cooling the preparation. This stirring and cooling step often takes a long time since, in order to obtain ice creams having a good consistency and quality, it is necessary to obtain a particular microstructure of the food product that incorporates air particles, food fat globules and ice microcrystals.

An optimal ice cream requires a texture, or structure of the finished product, such that the mass is made homogeneous, consistent and uniform to the eye. This characteristic is achieved in particular by means of a homogeneous cooling of the mixture, avoiding the formation of ice blocks.

In fact, during the mixing process and thus the achievement of freezing temperatures, it often happens that the food preparation sticks to the internal walls of the container in which it is mixed.

Therefore, the cooling systems of the ice cream makers of known type do not have any particular time limits and have the time to gradually reach a certain temperature, and over a considerable period of time, so as to ensure a constant and homogeneous cooling of the mixture for the formation of the ice cream.

However, given the growing popularity of household appliances for the instant preparation of food preparations, such as drinks like coffee, smoothies, milkshakes or even sweets and snacks, the demand has arisen for a tool that allows the instant and on-demand preparation also of ice cream or similar foodstuffs that is therefore compact and extremely efficient.

For the production of ice cream in single portion and almost immediately, a cooling system is required that can cool the product mixture instantly, avoiding the creation of ice blocks, and that is compact and space- saving . The object of the present invention is therefore to devise a highly efficient cooling system and adapted to cool a mixture in a homogeneous and immediate manner .

These and other purposes according to the present invention are achieved by realizing a cooling system as set forth in claim 1.

Further characteristics of the system are the object of the dependent claims.

A further object of the present invention is to make a machine, in particular a machine for food use, as set forth in claim 9.

The characteristics and advantages of a cooling system for machines for the production of ice creams according to the present invention will become more evident from the following illustrative and nonlimiting description, referring to the appended schematic drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a cooling system according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the system in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the central body of the cooling system in Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a Peltier cell of the cooling system in Figure 2;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of an assembly means of the cooling system of Figure 2;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cooling circuit associated with the system of Figure 1;

- Figure 7 schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of a cooling circuit associated with the system of Figure 1;

- Figure 8 shows, in transparency, a machine for the production of ice cream comprising a further alternative embodiment of the cooling system according to the present invention;

- Figure 9 schematically illustrates, in a frontal view, the main components of the cooling system according to the embodiment shown in Figure 8;

- Figure 10 schematically illustrates, in a plan view from above, the main components of the cooling system according to the embodiment shown in Figure 8;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view of the machine for the production of ice cream illustrated in Figure 8, with the front panel removed.

With reference to the figures, a cooling system is shown, collectively denoted by 10, in particular for use in a machine for processing, then cooling, a mixture, such as a food mixture for the production of ice cream.

According to the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 1, the cooling system 10 comprises a central body 1 adapted to house the mixture and/or the products to be cooled, either directly or via a further container. In particular, the central body 1 is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity.

As can be seen in Figures 1 to 6, the system 10 comprises four Peltier cells 2 located laterally to the central body 1 and in direct contact with the central body 1 itself . Preferably the cells 2 are located so as to have an entire surface in contact with the central body 1, so that the thermal exchange between these components is favoured. For this reason, the central body 1 has flat surfaces 11 or in any case at least compatible with the surfaces of the Peltier cells 2.

With reference instead to the alternative embodiment of the cooling system 10, shown in Figures 8 to 11, the one or more Peltier cells 2 are located below the central body 1, in direct contact with its base 16, preferably substantially flat.

Further, the cooling system 10 comprises cooling means 3 in a number corresponding to the number of Peltier cells 2 and adapted to keep the temperature of the cells under control during the step of cooling the food mixture.

Further, the cooling system 10 comprises one or more assembly means 5 adapted to keep assembled the central body 1, the at least one Peltier cell 2 and the at least one cooling means 3. The assembly means 5 are provided with a certain elasticity.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the system comprises two assembly means 5.

In the embodiment illustrated, the cooling system 10 further comprises a base element 4 made of a thermal insulating material adapted to act as a base and at the same time as a mounting mask for the cooling system 10 itself on the machine in which it is used.

In particular, the cooling system 10 may comprise more or fewer Peltier cells 2 depending on the requirements, hence on the required cooling power, which may be located either laterally or inferiorly to the central body 1. In general, the cooling system 10 comprises at least one Peltier cell 2 and accordingly a corresponding number of cooling means 3 associated with each of them. In particular, the liquid cooling means 3 are associated with a cooling circuit 30, illustrated in Figure 6, comprising at least a radiator 31, a tank 32 and a pump 33 for recirculating the coolant and comprise at least one pipe inlet and an outlet pipe for the coolant that are preferably made of copper. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, these are blocks in which the coolant circulates thanks to the thrust of the pump 33. In each block, the liquid enters and exits through a respective inlet and outlet pipe.

Advantageously, the coolant may be water or any other type of coolant.

Figure 6 illustrates a possible embodiment of the cooling circuit 30 within a machine.

Figure 7 schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of a cooling circuit 30 ' , which comprises a refrigerated tank 32 ' having a volume greater than or equal to 3 litres, preferably greater than or equal to

4 litres, even more preferably greater than or equal to

5 litres. Advantageously, the coolant, such as water, contained within the refrigerated tank 32 ' is constantly maintained at a temperature of less than 10°C and preferably less than or equal to 5°C.

The refrigerated tank 32 ' may be hydraulically connected to the cooling system 10 of a machine 100 for the production of ice cream such as the one schematically illustrated in Figure 7, by means of a delivery conduit 320 and an intake conduit 321. The coolant is advantageously pumped through the cooling system 10 of the machine 100 by means of the pump 33 integrated into the cooling system 10 itself, as shown in Figure 6, or by means of a pump external to the cooling system 10, not illustrated in the accompanying figures .

Advantageously, the refrigerated tank 32 ' is housed inside a refrigeration compartment 35. Preferably, the refrigeration compartment 35 comprises a first compartment 351, hidden from view, in which the refrigerated tank 32 ' is housed, and a second compartment 352, visible, and accessible by a user, in which other products requiring low storage temperatures, such as the same ingredients for the preparation of ice cream, or toppings to be applied to the ice cream after it has been prepared, can be stored .

The aforesaid refrigeration compartment 35 can advantageously be integrated in a kitchen, in the case of home installation, or in a counter, in the case of installation in commercial establishments.

The fact of having a considerable amount of coolant maintained at a low temperature allows the cooling system 10 to operate efficiently and quickly, thereby improving the performance of the machine 100 for the preparation of ice cream in terms of time and amount of ice cream that can be prepared in the unit of time. Furthermore, having a considerable volume of coolant already at the desired temperature makes it possible to avoid providing the cooling system 10 with the Peltier cells 2 with dedicated radiators and cooling fans, thus simplifying the construction of the same cooling system 10.

Further, the Peltier cells 2 are powered at 15V by an energy source located in the machine.

Each Peltier cell 2, as illustrated in Figure 4, is made up of a shell of two ceramic plates sandwiched between semiconductors, which, when they are crossed by direct current, cool one of the two plates and heat the other. In this case, the ceramic plate facing the central body 1 will be cooled, thereby cooling the contents of the central body 1, while the ceramic plate facing the opposite side will be heated in a controlled manner thanks to the cooling means 3 associated with each Peltier cell 2.

Preferably, the central body 1 is made of aluminium .

Preferably, the base element 4 is made of plastic.

In particular, the one or more assembly means 5 of the components of the cooling system 10 comprise a wire 51, preferably made of steel and more preferably coated with a layer of anti-corrosion material. As illustrated in Figure 5, an assembly means 5 is made of a steel wire 51 fixed at both ends to a metal rod 52 by means of suitable coupling means 53. The elasticity of the assembly means 5 basically derives from the shape of the steel wire 51 which, thanks to the curvatures 54 it features, exerts an elastic and constant pressure effect on the components.

These assembly means 5 allow a constant and optimal pressure to be maintained between the Peltier cells 2 and the central body 1 but also the cooling means 3 for the entire duration of the cooling process. The fact that these assembly means 5 are elastic enables them to adapt to the transformations that the components undergo due to temperature changes. In fact, the pressure between the Peltier cells 2 and the central body 1 is crucial for maintaining the high level of efficiency of the cooling system 10, while the pressure between the Peltier cells 2 and the cooling means 3 is essential for the proper functioning of the Peltier cells 2 themselves by preventing them from overheating .

Advantageously, the at least one cooling means 3 may comprise a heat pipe device 40.

In short, a "heat pipe" device is generally composed of a concentric pair of heat-conducting metal pipes (cylindrical or flattened) , for example in copper or aluminium, where the external containment one is sealed and contains a certain amount of cooling fluid, such as water, ethanol or mercury, while the inside part of the pipe is filled only by the vapour of the cooling liquid itself . In a "heat pipe" device, the heat exchange is based solely on the passages of evaporation (from liquid to gaseous) and condensation (reverse state change, from gaseous to liquid) state of the cooling liquid inside the device itself .

Advantageously, the heat pipe device 40 is in direct contact with the one or more Peltier cells 2 present in the cooling system 10.

Advantageously, the at least one cooling means 3 comprises a heat exchanger 41 associated with the heat pipe device 40, which heat exchanger 41 acts as a cold source to remove heat from the Peltier cells 2.

Advantageously, the heat exchanger 41 comprises a fan 42, which is thus suitable for generating a forced ventilation of air directed towards a portion of the heat pipe device 40.

Alternatively, the heat exchanger 41 may comprise liquid cooling means. The present invention also relates to a cooling system 10 for a machine 100 for processing a mixture comprising :

- a central body 1 adapted to house the mixture and/or the products to be cooled, made of a material having a high thermal conductivity;

- at least one Peltier cell 2 arranged laterally and/or inferiorly to and in direct contact with a wall of the central body 1;

- cooling means 3 adapted to keep the temperature of the at least one Peltier cell 2 under control, wherein said cooling means 3 comprise a heat pipe device 40.

Preferably the at least one Peltier cell 2 is located below the central body 1, for example inferiorly to a back wall, i.e. to the base, of the central body 1.

Advantageously, the central body 1 adapted to house the mixture and/or the products to be cooled is a hollow solid body 15 whose base dimensions are greater than the height. For example, if the hollow solid body is cylindrical in shape, the diameter of the base is at least greater than the height of the cylinder. Similarly, if the hollow solid body is in the shape of a parallelepiped, the sides of the base are at least greater in length than the height of the parallelepiped .

The number 150 indicates the cavity of the hollow solid body 15 which houses the mixture and/or the products to be cooled.

In this way, the cooling carried out by the Peltier cells 2 located below the central body 1, at its base, is improved in terms of thermal efficiency.

Advantageously, as schematically illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the aforesaid solid hollow body 15 comprises a base 16 made of a material suitable for transmitting heat, that is, having a high thermal conductivity, such as for example aluminium, and one or more side walls 17, also preferably made of a material suitable for transmitting heat, such as for example aluminium .

Advantageously, the central body 1 is housed inside an insulating jacket 18 made of thermally insulating material. In the schematic Figures 9 and 10, this insulating jacket 18 is represented with dots.

Advantageously, an insulating mask 181 is also provided, also made of thermally insulating material, which wraps the Peltier cells, thermally insulating them from the external environment, and in fact leaving exposed only the faces in contact with the base 16 of the hollow solid body 15 (superiorly) and with the heat pipe device 40 (inferiorly) , respectively.

Advantageously, the heat pipe device 40 comprises a plurality of heat pipes each comprising a first portion 43, located at the Peltier cells 2 to which they are applied, having a substantially flattened tubular configuration, and a second portion 44, associated with the heat exchanger 41, having a substantially cylindrical tubular configuration.

The cooling system may comprise a plurality of Peltier cells 2 placed side by side, so as to affect the surface of the base 16 of the central body 1. Figure 10, for example, shows a cooling system 10 comprising four Peltier cells 2 located between the base 16 of the central body 1 and the heat pipe device

40.

The possibility of providing the cooling system 10 with a heat pipe device 40 for removing heat from the hot side of the Peltier cells 2 allows the thermal performance of the cooling system 10 itself to be optimised, while also ensuring a reduction in the spaces occupied by the same, and a simplification of the associated cooling circuit.

The operation of the cooling system is as follows.

The mixture of ingredients to be cooled is inserted in the central body 1 and the machine, then the cooling system 10, is activated.

At this point, the semiconductors in the Peltier cells 2 are crossed by a direct current, supplied by the energy source present in the machine, which causes the cooling of one side of the cells, in particular the side in contact with the central body 1, and the heating of the opposite side. At the same time, the cooling means 3 are activated, which, thanks to the cooling circuit 30, are crossed by a coolant adapted to keep the temperature of the side of the Peltier cells 2 facing them under control.

This system allows the freezing of the mixture inside the central body to be obtained in about 180 sec .

From the above description the features of the system object of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof, are evident.

Finally, it is clear that the system thus conceived is susceptible to many modifications and variants, all falling within the same inventive concept; furthermore, all details can be replaced by equivalent technical elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as their dimensions, can be of any type according to the technical requirements.

Claims

1) Cooling system (10) for a machine for processing a mixture comprising:

- a central body (1) adapted to house the mixture and/or the products to be cooled, said central body (1) being made of material having a high thermal conductivity;

- at least one Peltier cell (2) arranged laterally and/or inferiorly to a wall of said central body (1) and in direct contact with it;

- cooling means (3) in a number corresponding to the number of said at least one Peltier cell (2) adapted to keep the temperature of said at least one Peltier cell (2) under control; said cooling system (10) further comprising one or more assembly means (5) adapted to keep assembled said central body (1) , said at least one Peltier cell (2) and said at least one cooling means (3) , said assembly means (5) comprising a wire (51) , preferably of steel, shaped to exert a pressure on said central body (1) , said at least one Peltier cell (2) and said at least one cooling means (3) , and being provided with a certain elasticity deriving from said shaping of said wire (51) .

2) Cooling system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a base element (4) made of a thermal insulating material adapted to act as a base for said cooling system (10) and at the same time as a mounting mask between said cooling system (10) and said machine.

3) Cooling system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cooling means (3) are liquid cooling means .

4) Cooling system (10) according to claim 3 wherein said cooling means (3) are associated with a cooling circuit (30) comprising at least a radiator (31) , a tank (32) and a pump (33) that allow the recirculation of the coolant.

5) Cooling system (10) according to claim 3 wherein said cooling means (3) are associated with a cooling circuit (30 ' ) comprising a refrigerated tank (32 ' ) having a volume greater than or equal to 3 litres.

6) Cooling system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one Peltier cell (2) is powered at 15V by an energy source located in said machine.

7) Cooling system (10) according to one of the preceding claims wherein said central body (1) is made of aluminium.

8) Cooling system (10) according to one of the preceding claims wherein said base element (4) is made of plastic material.

9) Cooling system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more assembly means (5) comprises said wire (51) , preferably of steel, fixed on both ends to a metal bar (52) by means of suitable coupling means (53) .

10) Cooling system (10) according to claim 9, wherein said wire (51) comprises curvatures (54) adapted to exert a constant elastic and pressure effect on said central body (1) , said at least one Peltier cell (2) and said at least one cooling means (3) .

11) Cooling system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cooling means (3) comprises a heat - 16 - pipe device (40) .

12) Cooling system (10) for a machine for processing a mixture comprising:

- cooling means (3) adapted to keep the temperature of said at least one Peltier cell (2) under control; wherein said cooling means (3) comprise a heat pipe device ( 40 ) .

13) Cooling system (10) according to claim 12, wherein said at least one Peltier cell (2) is located below said central body (1) .

14) Cooling system (10) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said central body (1) adapted to house the mixture and/or the products to be cooled is a hollow solid body (15) whose base dimensions are greater than the height .

15) Cooling system (10) , according to claim 12 or 13 or 14, wherein said central body (1) is housed inside a thermally insulating jacket (18) and wherein a thermally insulating mask (181) is further provided which is suitable for thermally insulating said at least one Peltier cell (2) and leaving exposed only the faces thereof in contact, respectively, superiorly, with the base (16) of said central body (1) and, inferiorly, with said heat pipe device (40) . - 17 -

16) Machine for the production of ice creams comprising a cooling system (10) as set forth in one or more of the preceding claims.