Abstract: A conveyor system wherein an endless conveyor belt follows a helical conveying path with the tiers at least partly in self-supporting relationship, wherein the lowermost tier is supported by a plurality of trolleys mounted on a fixed helical rail, and the trolleys are individually driven by the internal capsten which also drives the conveyor belt at the inside edge of the helical conveyor path.

Abstract: A conveyor comprises an endless conveyor belt (1) which along part of its length follows a path consisting of a number of helically extending turns laid upon each other, and a supporting installation (8, 9, 19) consisting of two endless chains (8, 9) which are carried by supports (19) and support the lowermost of the helically extending belt turns by supporting the belt edge portions along this turn. A second endless conveyor belt (1') is of substantially the same shape as the first-mentioned conveyor belt (1) and follows along part of its length a path consisting of a number of helically extending turns laid upon each other and alternating with the turns of the first-mentioned conveyor belt.

Abstract: The inventive device comprises a channel defined by a bottom and side walls having an inlet end and an outlet end for the flow of a refrigerant. Underneath the bottom there is provided transversely between the side walls an elongate first space. Substantially underneath the bottom and in association with the inlet end of the channel, an elongate second space is provided parallel to the first space. Between the first and the second space, at least one opening is so provided that a component of a flow rotating in the first space is guided substantially tangentially out of the first space and into the second space. The refrigerant therein is caused to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the second space, the second space being so connected to the inlet end of the channel that a component of the flow rotating in the second space is guided substantially tangentially out of the second space and in over the bottom so as to form a homogeneous flow of refrigerant in the channel.

Abstract: A freezing device having a substantially closed container is shown and described. The top part of the container has a feed opening and a discharge opening. These openings are located above a maximum level of cooling medium in a container, which cooling medium in a gaseous stage is heavier than air. A first tube extends through an additional opening in the top side of the container and forms an overflow. By means of this device, the level of the cooling medium is maintained constant in the container and excess cooling medium is removed by means of a second tube and pipe connected to it.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is adapted in endless design to follow, through a part of its length, a path comprising a number of superimposed, helically extending tiers. The conveyor belt consists of mutually articulated and relatively adjustable links, each comprising a bottom part and spacers arranged at the longitudinal edges of the bottom part, the spacers forming the two sides of the belt, the upper edge portions of the spacers being adapted to engage the lower edge portions of overlying tiers of the conveyor belt and fixedly connected through a part of their length to the longitudinal edges of the bottom part, the remaining part being movable relative to the bottom part. Each spacer is provided with shoulders mutually displaced in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the belt, to engage with both the inner side and the outer side of the an upper edge portion of the spacer of the underlying belt tier, thereby to positively guide the edge portion in the lateral direction.

Abstract: A storing installation comprises two endless chains supporting a load for the conveyance thereof along a conveyance path and travelling in opposition to said conveyance path in a return path having more tightly curved portions than said conveyance path, to formed closed chain paths, and a frame for supporting said chains via at least one series of rolling elements arranged between said frame and the respective chain. Each chain comprises links overlapping one another in such a manner that the chain and the frame form an essentially closed channel for the rolling elements throughout the tighter return path.

Abstract: In a process for freezing liquid or semiliquid food products in the form of essentially uniform pellets, the nonfrozen food product is introduced into a container. The product is agitated within the container, while a liquid cooling gas is sprayed over the product. The partially frozen food product is then removed from the container before it is completely frozen and after formability has been achieved, and is formed into essentially uniform pellets which are completely frozen outside the container. An apparatus for carrying the process into effect comprises a container, an agitator mounted within said container, spray nozzles opening into the upper part of the said container for spraying the underlying food product in the container with a liquid cooling gas, a forming device for forming the partially frozen food product removed from said container into essentially uniform pellets, and a freezer for completely freezing the pellets thus formed.

Abstract: In a method for controlling the flow of a pumpable food product into an apparatus comprising a conveyor belt to which the product is applied and converted from liquid to solid phase, the angle of spreading of the product applied to the conveyor belt is sensed and compared with a predetermined angle of spreading. The flow of product is so controlled that the difference between these angles is reduced. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes a horizontal belt conveyor having a conveyor belt for treating a web or mat of a pumpable product which is applied to the belt and spread over its entire width. A detector senses the angle of spreading of the product on the belt, and a control unit controls the flow of product applied such that the angle of spreading will have a predetermined value.

Abstract: A conveyor belt, which is adapted in endless condition to follow through part of its length a path comprising a number of superposed, helically extending turns, comprises link means which are articulated with one another and are relatively adjustable and comprise a bottom part and spacing members arranged at the longitudinal edges of said bottom part and constituting the two sides of the belt, said spacing members being adapted with their upper edge portions to bear against the lower edge portions of the overlying turn of the conveyor belt in order to permit this to carry the underlying belt turn, at least part of the spacing members being adapted with their upper edge portions to engage shoulders at the lower edge portions of the spacing members of the overlying turn of the conveyor belt so as to prevent lateral displacement of the belt turns.

Abstract: A method of removing particulate or aggregate frost deposits from cooling-coil batteries or the like in a freezing plant during operation while maintaining the state of aggregation of the removed frost deposit, recurrently removing the frost deposits by a current of compressed air directed towards and brought to sweep over the cooling-coil batteries. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes at least one compressed-air nozzle which is adapted to be recurrently directed towards and brought to sweep over said cooling-coil batteries in order to blow away the frost deposit.

Abstract: A storing installation for carrying a number of helically extending turns of an endless conveyor belt laid upon one another in a pile, where the various belt turns in the pile are supported by one another, comprises two endless chains which are arranged under the belt pile, support the two edge portions of the belt and are carried by supports, said chains being each adapted, after the ingoing or outgoing lower part of the conveyor belt, to follow the belt in its rise throughout a complete revolution, whereupon it travels in a direction opposite to the rise of the conveyor belt in a path beside said revolution so as to form the endless chain.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of removing frost deposits from cooling-coil batteries or the like in a freezing plant during operation, while maintaining the state of aggregation of the removed frost deposit. According to the invention the frost deposit is recurrently removed by a current of compressed air being directed towards and brought to sweep over the cooling-coil batteries.The invention also concerns an apparatus for carrying out the method, said apparatus including at least one compressed-air nozzle which is adapted to be recurrently directed towards and brought to sweep over said cooling-coil batteries in order to blow away the frost deposit.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous direct treatment of products by means of a fluid cooling medium comprises a chamber adapted to permit passage of the products. According to the invention this chamber is provided in its bottom plane with two slots spaced from each other in the direction of movement, to which slots the fluid cooling medium is adapted to be supplied in such a way that curtains will be formed at the slots, said curtains defining, together with sidewalls arranged on the sides of the bottom plane, a liquid bed formed of the fluid cooling medium on the bottom plane. The conveying means for the product consists of a perforate endless conveyor belt adapted to travel along the bottom plane of the chamber for moving the product through the liquid bed in order to effect the direct treatment of the product by means of the fluid cooling medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for air-treatment of products includes an endless foraminous conveyor belt for the products which is adapted within the space for the air-treatment to follow at least one path extending helically in several turns, said path for the foraminous conveyor belt being defined by an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder and the air being disposed to flow through the passage situated between the cylinders from one end to the other end of the passage. According to the invention the air is also disposed to be supplied to the passage between the cylinders from the inner cylinder through perforations therein, the size of the perforations and/or the interspace therebetween being so chosen that the air supply from the inner cylinder continuously varies in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat treatment of food products, in the form of a product bed consisting of solid particles, includes a container with a perforated bottom for the product bed. Gas is adapted to be supplied to the product bed in the container of this apparatus generally from below upwards through the perforated bottom at such a velocity that the product bed will form a fluidized bed. The gas, which is caused to circulate in the apparatus by means of a fan and to flow through the container as well as through a heat exchanger, is adapted to pulsate through the product bed in the container. According to the invention the apparatus is provided with a conduit passing by the container and being situated before the container with the perforated bottom, as counted in the flow direction, said conduit being provided with a rotatable damper which is adapted during its rotation to raise and lower the pressure under the perforated bottom for the pulsation of the gas through the product bed.

Abstract: Arrangement in a freezing plant, comprising a combination of a conventional freezer and a precool unit. The arrangement is connected between the freezer and the precool unit in such a way that the amount of air in the freezing plant is maintained substantially constant without any reaction with the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for heat treatment of unpackaged food products by means of a fluid, especially a liquid, which has a temperature different from that of the unpackaged products and which supplies heat to the product or remove heat therefrom. The product is placed on a support of high thermal conductivity and is covered by a thin, flexible and fluid-tight covering layer which can be brought to closely follow the product. Upon flushing of such fluid towards the underside of the support and towards the top side of the cover, the fluid is adapted to cause the cover to adhere closely to the products thereby establishing a maximized contact surface for the exchange of heat between the fluid and the products.