US3864931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for food freezing
Assignee: Santrade Ltd
•
Filing: 1973-01-19
•
Granted: 1975-02-11
•
Expires: 1993-01-19
Abstract
Abstract Process and apparatus for freezing foodstuffs, especially foodstuffs having a pulpy consistency such as sliced and softboiled fruits or vegetables. The foodstuffs are arranged in a thin layer on a metallic movable belt having a plurality of openings through the belt. The belt member is sequentialy moved through a first freezing zone where cooling air is directed upwardly through the openings in the belt so as to form frozen through-channels in the layer of foodstuffs and a second freezing zone where cooling air is forced against the food layer in a direction toward the support with the through-channels in the foodstuff layer providing passage means for communicating with the openings in the belt in this second zone. The velocity of the cooling air in the first zone is substantially less than the velocity of the cooling air in the second zone so as to prevent blowing of the foodstuff from the belt in the first zone and so as to facilitate rapid freezing of the foodstuff layer in the second zone. The apparatus for this process includes arranging the belt member as an endless belt extending around spaced rollers positioned outwardly of the ends of the freezing chamber containing the first and second zones. A continuous cooling or freezing medium supply circuit is provided for creating the necessary pressure differentials in the first and second zones to obtain the respective opposite flows through the foodstuffs in these two zones. Also, the second zone is provided with nozzles for increasing the velocity of flow of cooling air against the foodstuffs.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Guttinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:35
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B7/00; A23B7/04; A23B7/0408; F; F25; F25D; F25D13/00; F25D13/06; F25D13/067; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a relatively flat layer on a support, applying a first flow of cooling medium against said flat layer at a plurality of spaced positions on the support and in a direction from said support toward said flat layer so as to form frozen channel portions through said flat layer at said spaced positions, and applying a second flow of cooling medium against said flat layer in a direction toward said support so as to freeze the remainder of said layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a relatively flat layer on a support, applying a first flow of cooling medium against said flat layer at a plurality of spaced positions on the support and in a direction from said support toward said flat layer so as to form frozen channel portions through said flat layer at said spaced positions, and applying a second flow of cooling medium against said flat layer in a direction toward said support so as to freeze the remainder of said layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein said applying of said first and second flows includes providing higher velocity for said second flow than for said first flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein said support is constructed as a belt member having through openings at said spaced positions, and wherein said applying of said first flow includes forming a pressure differential across said belt member such that the first flow of cooling medium passes through said openings and then against said flat layer to form said frozen channel portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Process according to claim 3, wherein said applying of said second flow includes forming a pressure differential across said belt member such that the second flow of cooling medium passes through said openings after passing through said flat layer and associated frozen channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
Process according to claim 4, wherein said applying of said first and second flows includes moving said belt member through serially arranged freezing chambers which have oppositely directed freezing medium flows therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
Process according to claim 5, wherein said foodstuffs include foodstuffs of especially pulpy consistency such as sliced and boiled fruits and vegetables, wherein said applying of said first and second flows includes providing a higher velocity and colder cooling medium for said second flow than for said first flow, and wherein said cooling medium is cooled air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Process according to claim 6, wherein said moving of said belt member includes arranging said belt member as an endless belt extendiing around two roller members arranged at opposite ends of said freezing chambers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
228 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a relatively flat layer on a support, applying a first flow of cooling medium against said flat layer at a plurality of spaced positions on the support and in a direction from said support toward said flat layer so as to form frozen channels through said flat layer at said spaced positions, and applying a second flow of cooling medium against said flat layer in a direction toward said support, wherein said support is constructed as a belt member having through openings at said spaced positions, and whErein said applying of said first flow includes forming a pressure differential across said belt member such that the first flow of cooling medium passes through said openings and then against said flat layer to form said frozen channels, wherein said applying of said second flow includes forming a pressure differential across said belt member such that the second flow of cooling medium passes through said openings after passing through said flat layer and associated frozen channels, wherein said foodstuffs include foodstuffs of especially pulpy consistency such as sliced and boiled fruits and vegetables, wherein said applying of said first and second flows includes providing a higher velocity and colder cooling medium for said second flow than for said first flow, and wherein said cooling medium is cooled air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
228 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a relatively flat layer on a support, applying a first flow of cooling medium against said flat layer at a plurality of spaced positions on the support and in a direction from said support toward said flat layer so as to form frozen channels through said flat layer at said spaced positions, and applying a second flow of cooling medium against said flat layer in a direction toward said support, wherein said support is constructed as a belt member having through openings at said spaced positions, and whErein said applying of said first flow includes forming a pressure differential across said belt member such that the first flow of cooling medium passes through said openings and then against said flat layer to form said frozen channels, wherein said applying of said second flow includes forming a pressure differential across said belt member such that the second flow of cooling medium passes through said openings after passing through said flat layer and associated frozen channels, wherein said foodstuffs include foodstuffs of especially pulpy consistency such as sliced and boiled fruits and vegetables, wherein said applying of said first and second flows includes providing a higher velocity and colder cooling medium for said second flow than for said first flow, and wherein said cooling medium is cooled air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a substantially flat, substantially continuous layer on a support, applying a first flow of cooling medium against said layer at a plurality of spaced positions on the support and in a direction from said support toward said flat layer and at such a flow velocity and temperature to form frozen channel portions through said flat layer at said spaced positions, and applying a second flow of cooling medium against said layer in a direction toward said support and at such a flow velocity and temperature to freeze the remainder of said layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a substantially flat, substantially continuous layer on a support, applying a first flow of cooling medium against said layer at a plurality of spaced positions on the support and in a direction from said support toward said flat layer and at such a flow velocity and temperature to form frozen channel portions through said flat layer at said spaced positions, and applying a second flow of cooling medium against said layer in a direction toward said support and at such a flow velocity and temperature to freeze the remainder of said layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a relatively flat layer on a support, applying a first flow of cooling medium at a first flow velocity against said flat layer at a plurality of spaced positions on the support and in a direction from said support toward said flat layer so as to form frozen channels through said flat layer at said spaced positions, and applying a second flow of cooling medium at a second flow velocity against said flat layer in a direction toward said support, wherein said second flow velocity is substantially higher than said first.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a relatively flat layer on a support, applying a first flow of cooling medium at a first flow velocity against said flat layer at a plurality of spaced positions on the support and in a direction from said support toward said flat layer so as to form frozen channels through said flat layer at said spaced positions, and applying a second flow of cooling medium at a second flow velocity against said flat layer in a direction toward said support, wherein said second flow velocity is substantially higher than said first.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process according to claim 10, wherein said applying of said first and second flows includes providing a colder cooling medium for said second flow than for said first flow.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a substantially flat layer on a substantially horizontal support, which layer is of the type which would exert such a resistance against the through flow of a medium from above that it would be extremely difficult for the medium to flow through the layer and through the support which has a plurality of spaced openings extending therethrough, applying a first air jet flow of cooling medium at a temperature below the freezing temperature of the layer against said layer at said spaced openings in the support in a direction to urge upwardly portions of the layer disposed above the openings such that frozen through flow channels are formed in the layer, and applying a second flow of cooling medium at a temperature below the temperature of the first flow of cooling medium against said layer in a direction toward said support so as to intensively freeze the remainder of the layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
163 words
Process for freezing foodstuffs comprising the successive steps of: placing foodstuffs in a substantially flat layer on a substantially horizontal support, which layer is of the type which would exert such a resistance against the through flow of a medium from above that it would be extremely difficult for the medium to flow through the layer and through the support which has a plurality of spaced openings extending therethrough, applying a first air jet flow of cooling medium at a temperature below the freezing temperature of the layer against said layer at said spaced openings in the support in a direction to urge upwardly portions of the layer disposed above the openings such that frozen through flow channels are formed in the layer, and applying a second flow of cooling medium at a temperature below the temperature of the first flow of cooling medium against said layer in a direction toward said support so as to intensively freeze the remainder of the layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1930414A
Cited
US2402921A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |