Multitier crossflow cryogenic freezer and method of use
First Claim
1. An apparatus for individually quick freezing products comprising:
- a wall structure defining a first elongated freezing chamber including a product entrance and a product exit;
a product support within the first freezing chamber for supporting individual product pieces as they pass through the first freezing chamber from the product entrance to the product exit;
at least one liquid cryogen injector positioned in at least one location effective to create a temperature in the first freezing chamber sufficiently low to individually freeze the product pieces as the product pieces pass through the first freezing chamber;
at least one blower having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet arranged for directing vaporized cryogen transversely across the product support to cool, agitate, and transport the individual product pieces across the product support; and
a second chamber positioned for receiving the product pieces when they pass out the first freezing chamber product exit, said second chamber positioned below said first freezing chamber and including means for moving said product pieces in a direction opposite that in said first freezing chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An individual quick freeze apparatus is presented which is designed to allow continuous production of high quality individually quick frozen product, for example food products, using a process which constantly alters the orientation and position of the product which is being frozen. The freezer includes an elongated freezing chamber having a product support extending from a product entrance end to a product exit end. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of liquid cryogen injectors are provided which spray a cryogenic liquid directly on the product. At least one blower is positioned along at least one the side of the product support to blow cold recirculated gas across the product to cool and agitate the product. The direct liquid/gas contact with the product causes rapid heat removal allowing for more product throughput per length of freezer. The individual quick freeze apparatus may also be used as the first tier in a multitier freezer.
56 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for individually quick freezing products comprising:
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a wall structure defining a first elongated freezing chamber including a product entrance and a product exit; a product support within the first freezing chamber for supporting individual product pieces as they pass through the first freezing chamber from the product entrance to the product exit; at least one liquid cryogen injector positioned in at least one location effective to create a temperature in the first freezing chamber sufficiently low to individually freeze the product pieces as the product pieces pass through the first freezing chamber; at least one blower having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet arranged for directing vaporized cryogen transversely across the product support to cool, agitate, and transport the individual product pieces across the product support; and a second chamber positioned for receiving the product pieces when they pass out the first freezing chamber product exit, said second chamber positioned below said first freezing chamber and including means for moving said product pieces in a direction opposite that in said first freezing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for individually quick freezing products comprising:
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a wall structure defining an elongated first freezing chamber including a product entrance and a product exit; a product support within the first freezing chamber for supporting individual product pieces as they pass through the first freezing chamber from the product entrance to the product exit, wherein the product support is V-shaped; at least one liquid cryogen injector positioned at least one location effective to create a temperature in the first freezing chamber sufficiently low to individually freeze the product pieces as the product pieces pass through the first freezing chamber; at least one blower having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet arranged for directing vaporized cryogen transversely across the product support to cool and agitate the individual product pieces; and a second chamber positioned for receiving the product pieces when they pass out the first freezing chamber product exit, said second chamber positioned below said first freezing chamber and including means for moving said product pieces in a direction opposite that in said first freezing chamber.
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18. An apparatus for individually quick freezing a product comprising:
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an elongated first freezing chamber including a product entrance and a product exit; a product conveyor belt within the first freezing chamber for transporting product through the first freezing chamber from the product entrance to the product exit; and a plurality of blowers each having an inlet and an outlet, the outlets of the blowers directing cold gas transversely across the product conveyor belt to cool, agitate, and transport the product in two dimensions, said plurality of blowers positioned on both sides of the conveyor belt; and a second chamber positioned for receiving the product pieces when they pass out the first freezing chamber product exit, said second chamber positioned below said first freezing chamber and including means for moving said product pieces in a direction opposite that in said first freezing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for individually quick freezing individual pieces of product, the method comprising the steps of:
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delivering a product to a first freezing chamber; transporting the product through the first freezing chamber; spraying a cryogenic liquid directly on the product from at least one location in the chamber; recirculating a cryogenic gas produced from vaporization of the cryogenic liquid through the freezing chamber with a plurality of blowers, said blowers applying a stream of cold gas to the product to further cool and to agitate the product and to transport the product in two dimensions; and transporting the product through a second chamber in a direction opposite that in said first freezing chamber, said second chamber receiving the product pieces when they pass out the first freezing chamber product exit, said second chamber positioned below said first freezing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for individually quick freezing products comprising:
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a wall structure defining an elongated first freezing chamber also including a product entrance and a product exit; a product support within the first freezing chamber for supporting individual product pieces as they pass through the first freezing chamber from the product entrance to the product exit; at least one refrigeration coil positioned at least one location effective to create a temperature in the freezing chamber sufficiently low to individually freeze the product pieces as the product pieces pass through the first freezing chamber; at least one blower having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet arranged for directing cooled air transversely across the product support to cool, agitate, and transport the individual product pieces across the product support, the air cooled via contact with the cooling coils; and a second chamber positioned for receiving the product pieces when they pass out the first freezing chamber product exit, said second chamber positioned below said first freezing chamber and including means for moving said product pieces in a direction opposite that in said first freezing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. An apparatus for individually quick freezing products comprising:
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a wall structure defining an elongated first freezing chamber including a product entrance and a product exit; a product support within the first freezing chamber for supporting individual product pieces as they pass through the first freezing chamber from the product entrance to the product exit; at least one liquid cryogen injector positioned at least one location effective to create a temperature in the first freezing chamber sufficiently low to individually freeze the product pieces as the product pieces pass through the first freezing chamber; and at least one blower having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet arranged for directing vaporized cryogen transversely across the product support to cool and agitate the individual product pieces; a second chamber positioned for receiving the product pieces when they pass out the first freezing chamber product exit, said second chamber positioned below said first freezing chamber and including means for moving said product pieces in a direction opposite that in said first freezing chamber; wherein the blowers are positioned on one side of the product support and the product support is positioned at an angle with respect to the horizontal so that the individual product pieces are moved across the product support by the blowers and return across the product support by the force of gravity.
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27. A method for individually quick freezing individual pieces of product, the method comprising the steps of:
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delivering a product to a first freezing chamber; transporting the product through the first freezing chamber; spraying a cryogenic liquid directly on the product from at least one location in the chamber; and recirculating a cryogenic gas produced from vaporization of the cryogenic liquid through the first freezing chamber with a plurality of blowers, said blowers applying a stream of cold gas to the product to further cool and to agitate the product; wherein the product is transported through the first freezing chamber at least partially by being translated in two dimensions across a product support by the blowers positioned on both sides of the product support; and transporting the product through a second chamber in a direction opposite that in said first freezing chamber, said second chamber receiving the product pieces when they pass out the first freezing chamber product exit, said second chamber positioned below said first freezing chamber.
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Specification