Abstract: A plant for grinding a product, which includes a grinder in which the product is ground, which plant also includes a hopper for supplying the grinder with product to be ground, configured to be supplied with product to be ground; a means for bringing a cryogenic fluid into the hopper; and a means for discharging product from the hopper into the grinder. Wherein the hopper is provided in a lower part with a hollow screw provided with turns allowing the product to be discharged out of the hopper, into the grinder; and the means for bringing a cryogenic fluid into the hopper comprise an injection lance which is positioned inside the turns of the hollow screw, extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the screw.

Abstract: A plant for grinding a product, which includes a grinder in which the product is ground, which plant also includes a hopper for supplying the grinder with product to be ground, configured to be supplied with product to be ground; a means for bringing a cryogenic fluid into the hopper; and a means for discharging product from the hopper into the grinder. Wherein the hopper is provided in a lower part with a hollow screw provided with turns allowing the product to be discharged out of the hopper, into the grinder; and the means for bringing a cryogenic fluid into the hopper comprise an injection lance which is positioned inside the turns of the hollow screw, extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the screw.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an equipment for making ice cubes of liquid or pasty products comprising a honeycomb conveyor belt transporting the product to be processed along a path passing through at least the following three zones: a zone for metering and depositing the product to be processed in the cells; a cold input zone where preferably a cryogenic liquid solution completes the freezing of the ice cubes; and a stripping zone. Further, the honeycomb belt is bottomless, and located in an upstream zone opposite a cooled surface acting as a base of the partial mold formed by the cells, so as to harden the part of the product in contact with the cooled surface, thereby producing the base of the ice cube.

Abstract: The invention is a method for operating a cryogenic tunnel through which products to be chilled or deep-frozen pass. This tunnel is equipped with means for injecting a cryogenic fluid and means for extracting the cold gases in the tunnel. The method includes obtaining an entry or an exit gas temperature from a gas temperature probe outside the tunnel in proximity to the tunnel entrance or exit. The method also includes obtaining an ambient temperature from an ambient temperature probe located outside the tunnel. The method also includes determining a first delta which is the difference between the ambient temperature and the gas temperature. And the method includes controlling the extraction rate of the extraction means by feedback as a function of the the temperature difference between the first delta and a set point, in order to restore the value of the first delta to the setpoint value if necessary.

Abstract: According to the inventive method for the operation of a cryogenic tunnel (1) fitted with means (2) for injecting a cryogenic fluid and means for variable-rate extraction (3) of cold gases, at least one temperature probe (21,22) which is located outside the tunnel (1) close to the entrance and/or exit thereof and able to provide a value T (input/output) of the temperature of the gases and at least one second temperature probe (23) located outside the tunnel and able to provide a value T (amb) of the ambient temperature of the premises wherein the tunnel operates are provided and the difference T (amb input/output) is determined between the ambient temperature T (amb) and the temperature T (input/output) which is compared to a predetermined setpoint value To (amb-input/output) in order to act retroactively, according to the result of said comparison, on the rate of extraction of the extraction means (3) in order to establish, if necessary, the value of said temperature difference with regard to the setpoint va

Abstract: A device for injecting a refrigerant into a product mixer comprising a pipe for injecting the refrigerant comprising (1) an injection nozzle designed to be connected to the mixer and (2) at least one region of reduced cross section suitable for creating an expansion in the fluid located upstream of the injection nozzle with respect to the direction of flow of the fluid in the pipe.

Abstract: A process for in-line partial or complete freezing of products inside an enclosure comprising the steps of: introducing the products into the enclosure on a conveyor comprising an upper run and a lower run, the upper run including an upper face and a lower face; impregnating the conveyor with a cryogenic liquid by spraying the cryogenic liquid on the lower face of the upper run of the conveyor; bringing the product into contact with the conveyor and partially or completely freezing the product by heat transfer between the product and the cryogenic liquid retained in the structure of the conveyor; monitoring the impregnation of the conveyor; regulating the spraying of cryogenic liquid depending on the result of the monitoring. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and plant for cooling a food mass contained in a vessel are provided. The method includes, supplying a cryogenic liquid from a source and injecting the cryogenic liquid into the food mass through a bottom portion of the vessel. The pressure of the injected liquid is greater than 3 bar, and is preferably between 5 and 15 bar.

Abstract: A method of in-line surface-hardening of products is provided. In the process, the products are introduced into a chamber with at least one conveyor. The chamber includes a frigorie transfer means for surface-hardening the products. A surface hardened product is extracted from the chamber upon receipt of a product request signal emitted by a preparation unit located downstream of the device. The at least one conveyor is controlled to, upon receiving the product request signal, extract from the chamber the surface-hardened product which has resided longest in the chamber and, substantially at the same time, introducing into the chamber a new product to be surface hardened. The frigorie transfer means is controlled so as to control the quantity of frigories to be transferred to the products present in the chamber per unit time as a function of at least one elapsed period between two successive times at which preceding request signals from the preparation unit were received.

Abstract: A device for in-line surface hardening of products intended to feed a unit for preparation of the products, the unit being located downstream of the device comprising:a chamber comprising a frigorie transfer means for surface hardening the products, at least one conveyor for introducing the products into the chamber and for extracting a surface hardened product and means for receiving a product request signal emitted by the preparation unit,means (i) or controlling the at least one conveyor so as, upon receiving a request signal, to extract from the chamber the surface-hardened product which has resided the longest in the chamber and, substantially at the same time, (ii) for introducing into the chamber a new product to be surface hardened, and means for controlling the frigorie transfer means so as to control the quantity of frigories to be transferred to the products present in the chamber per unit time as a function of at least one elapsed period between two successive times at which preceding request sign