Abstract: Apparatus and the method for directing cool air to stacks of containers holding freshly harvested produce and the like, to remove field heat therefrom. Air is caused to flow in one direction through the containers to cool the produce, then the airflow direction is reversed and the air is caused to flow in the opposite direction. In this way, the produce in the container is uinformly cooled. The apparatus includes a housing having a suction fan for blowing air through an air cooler into a plenum from which the cool air passes through the containers. The direction of airflow is selected by moving damper devices relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method of freezing a liquid is disclosed comprising the steps of establishing a freezing zone, delivering the liquid to the freezing zone so that the liquid runs across the freezing zone, and collecting the unfrozen liquid running off the freezing zone for return to the freezing zone. The delivery of liquid is stopped when a sheet of frozen liquid of desired thickness is established on the freezing zone, and the freezing step is continued to harden the sheet of frozen liquid. The freezing zone is heated to harvest the sheet of frozen liquid by thawing the bond between the freezing zone and the sheet initially at the periphery of the freezing zone and thereafter throughout the freezing zone. The harvested sheet of frozen liquid is gravity dropped from the freezing zone into a fragmenting zone where the sheet is broken into fragments.

Abstract: An evaporator assembly for a freezing apparatus comprises freezing faces in the form of large planiform surfaces connected to an outer annulus having a contained volume, and the annulus runs along a substantial portion of the periphery of the freezing faces, the freezing faces and the annulus forming a central chamber. One portion of the annulus is attached to a segment having a narrowing cross section forming a contained volume, and a protruding liquid guide is attached to and runs substantially along the length of said segment.

Abstract: A freezing apparatus has at least one evaporator assembly with two freezing faces in the form of large planiform surfaces. The evaporator assembly has at least one chamber portion defined by the freezing faces and an outer annulus that is connected to a substantial portion of the periphery of the freezing faces. Liquid delivery means delivers the liquid to be frozen to an overflow trough means that is mounted on the evaporator assembly so that the liquid overflows from the trough means across the freezing face. There is means for heating and cooling the freezing faces of the evaporator assembly, and the freezing faces can continuously go through a cycle of cooling so as to freeze the liquid onto the faces and heating so as to release the frost bond between the sheets of frozen liquid and the freezing faces.