Patents Assigned to ABI Limited
  • Patent number: 6250087
    Abstract: A super-quick freezing method and apparatus for preserving the freshness of food ingredients and food products while enabling long-term storage is provided. Provided is a freezing store 11 capable of lowering the inner-temperature to −30° C. to −100° C.; and a fluctuating magnetic field generator 21 for applying a unidirectional magnetic field, which fluctuates within a 5% to 15% range about a arbitrary reference value fixed at a value between 1 to 20000 Gs in the positive and negative directions, to the central portion of the store. Also provided are ventilators 31 for circulating cold air within the store at a wind velocity of 1 to 5 m/sec; and a sound wave generator 41 for superimposing sound waves in the audio-frequency range with a sound pressure level of 2 to 10 dB onto the cold wind circulated by the ventilators 31. Also provided is an electric field generator 51 for applying an electric field with an intensity of 100 to 1000 kV/m to the central portion of the store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: ABI Limited
    Inventors: Norio Owada, Satoru Kurita