Abstract: A rotary machine and method for making unit confections of complementary parts which consist of different recipes, flavors, colors, textures and/or mix inclusions having paired groups of complementary molds arranged radially, adjacent to each other in or on sectors of a rotating table, in which a group of first molds radially arranged in a first sector produces physical shapes which fit within and complementarily join all or part of the physical shapes produced in a group of second molds radially arranged in a second sector.

Abstract: An apparatus for freezing particulate bodies, comprising a rotary member having a generally horizontal freezing surface, means for dispensing said bodies onto said surface, means for cooling the surface to a freezing temperature and means for collecting said bodies in at least peripherally frozen state from said surface. The particulate bodies may comprise food stuffs, such as prawns or cream, a pharmaceutical, a microbiological culture, or a puree. Liquified carbon dioxide and nitrogen are preferred for cooling.

Abstract: A rotary machine and method for making unit confections of complementary parts which consist of different recipes, flavors, colors, textures and/or mix inclusions having concentric groups of complementary molds essentially radially aligned in or on annular sections of a rotating table, in which a group of first molds in a first annular section produces physical shapes which fit within and complementarily join all or part of the physical shapes produced in a group of second molds in a second annular section that is concentric with the first annular section.

Abstract: A method of freezing aqueous liquids which method comprises the steps of:a) introducing the aqueous liquid into a mould;b) allowing at least the aqueous liquid in contact with said mould to freeze; andc) releasing said frozen liquid from said mould; wherein said method further comprises the step of:d) pre-cooling said mould to a temperature such that the frozen aqueous liquid can be readily released from said mould as a unitary structure.

Abstract: A system and method for making a frozen confection having a plurality of differently flavored or colored sections are provided. After partially freezing in a mold the ingredients for a first flavor or color to form a frozen outer layer and a liquid inner core, the liquid inner core is vacuumed from the mold. A carving tool, such as a laser, then is inserted into the area of the mold previously occupied by the liquid inner core. The carving tool removes a portion of the frozen outer layer in accordance with a predetermined pattern. The ingredients for a second flavor or color then are inserted into the mold to fill the inner core and the areas of the outer layer removed with the carving tool. The mold then is subjected to freezing to form the final product.

Abstract: Apparatus for continous production of flake ice comprises one or more refrigerated discs mounted on a hollow shaft. Each disc rotates in the vertical plane and includes a plurality of narrow internal channels which extend substantially over all of the operative portion of the disc and are of substantially equal length. The discs form the evaporator of a refrigeration circuit, and an evaporative refrigerant is circulated to the channels in each disc via the hollow shaft. During each cycle, water is applied to both external flat surfaces of each disc at a first angular location and the film of water which adheres thereto freezes as the disc rotates. The ice sheet so formed is removed from both sides of the disc at a second angular location by scraper blades.

Abstract: A method of freezing aqueous liquids which method comprises the steps of:a) introducing the aqueous liquid into a mould;b) allowing at least the aqueous liquid in contact with said mould to freeze; andc) releasing said frozen liquid from said mould; wherein said method further comprises the step of:d) pre-cooling said mould to a temperature such that the frozen aqueous liquid can be readily released from said mould as a unitary structure.

Abstract: A vibrating device for an electric refrigerator contains an ice making tray for making an ice from a water which is supplied to the ice making tray; a fulcrum member mounted on the ice making tray rotatable about the fulcrum member; an ice storing chamber for storing the ice which has been made in the ice making tray by rotating the ice making tray about the fulcrum member; rotation device for rotating the fulcrum member to perform an ice removing operation applied to the ice making tray; reciprocation device for supporting the fulcrum member in a horizontal direction which is orthogonal to an axis direction of the fulcrum member and for reciprocating the fulcrum member in the horizontal direction which is orthogonal to the axis direction of the fulcrum member.

Abstract: Frozen ice products are prepared by freezing a first ice mixture in a first mold to form a core and then by freezing a second ice mixture about the core in a second mold. The core is prepared by introducing and freezing a first ice mixture in a mold having a grooved frustocylindrical hollowed interior which, after demolding, provides a frozen grooved ice article which is introduced as a core into a second mold having a frustocylindrical hollowed interior and which has been filled partly with a second ice mixture which is frozen. A striped product is produced by employing a second mold which has a hollow cross-section size not larger than the cross-section size of the hollow of the first mold so that the outer edge frozen core surfaces contact the second mold.

Abstract: A flake ice machine (10) including a rotatable cooling member (12) defining cooling surfaces (20) and a plurality of internal refrigerant flow passages (76). The machine includes a spray tube (18) for introducing liquid material onto a portion of the cooling surfaces of the cooling member. A refrigerant supply system (30) supplies an excess of evaporative liquid refrigerant to the inlets (78) of the refrigerant flow passages, so that a portion of the liquid refrigerant evaporates within each passage to freeze the liquid material introduced onto the cooling surface, and a remaining portion of the refrigerant flows from the outlet (80) of each passage in the liquid state. Resilient removal blades (38) mounted adjacent each cooling surface remove frozen material from the cooling surface to form solid flakes of material.

Abstract: A method and system for producing extruded edible ice products wherein an extruded string is conveyed unbroken through a continuous freezing zone, with only constrictions or notches being provided in the string by transversely movable tools while the ice substance is still formable. After a hard freezing of the extruded string, single bodies are separated from the extruded string by a simple successive breaking action on a front end of the string, and a desired distance between individual severed bodies can be produced by permitting the bodies to fall onto a conveyor moving at a speed which is higher than a conveying speed of the extruded string.

Abstract: A pelletizer for making pellets from a liquid or semi-liquid food product has two molding rolls between which the food product is formed into pellets. The rolls have teeth of complementary shape, and the teeth of at least one roll have axially spaced apart recesses. The rolls are cooled with a refrigerant during the molding operation. By the means of the pelletizer, frozen pellets are made from a liquid or semi-liquid food product which, prior to molding, is refrigerated into moldable consistency before being supplied to the nip between the two cooperating molding rolls which are cooled during the molding operation so as to form surface-frozen pellets which are thereafter subjected to final freezing.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous production of flake ice comprises one or more refrigerated discs mounted on a hollow shaft. Each disc rotates in the vertical plane and includes a plurality of narrow internal channels which extend substantially over all of the operative portion of the disc and are of substantially equal length. The discs form the evaporator of a refrigeration circuit, and an evaporative refrigerant is circulated to the channels in each disc via the hollow shaft. During each cycle, water is applied to both external flat surfaces of each disc at a first angular location and the film of water which adheres thereto freezes as the disc rotates. The ice sheet so formed is removed from both sides of the disc at a second angular location by scraper blades.

Abstract: The machine comprises a plurality of mold plates moving along two superposed pairs of guides. Arranged in sequence along the upper guides are a mold filling device, a freezing tank, a stick inserting device, means for removing the freezed product. Arranged at the two ends of the machine are means capable of receiving a mold plate at its exit from the upper guides to bring it to the lower guides, and conversely, without the mold plates being overturned. The mold plates on the lower guides are moved at higher speed than the mold plates on the upper guides.

Abstract: A machine for making two-flavor ices, in particular ice lollies, comprising a freezing tank (2) through which parallel rows of molds (A, B) whose cross-sections are inscribable into one another are caused to advance intermittently at two-step rate, a metering-filling unit (6) for filling molds (A), a stick-inserting unit (7), an intermediate withdrawing station (10) in which ices are removed from molds (A) and then released into molds (B), a second metering-filling unit (11) for completing filling of molds (B), and a final withdrawing unit (8).

Abstract: A compact, efficient, and economical ice machine is provided which allows rapid production of ice chips. The preferred ice machine includes an elongated, flexible member formed as an endless loop which is rotated through a freezing tube by means of a harvesting pulley. The freezing tube includes an evaporator therearound in order to freeze water in the tube and around the flexible member portion located therein. After an ice column is formed, hot refrigerant gas passes through the evaporator to loosen the ice column from the tube interior whereupon the pulley rotates to withdraw the flexible member portion from the freezing tube and the ice column attached thereto upwardly therefrom. The ice breaking element adjacent the pulley engages the ice column and fractures it into ice chips as the flexible portion passes over the pulley.

Abstract: The invention provides containers useful for freezedrying of biological and other materials which can be advantageously subjected to a lyophilization process, such materials including proteinaceous materials from which moisture is removed in order to preserve the material in a dry, shelf-stable form. The present containers allow lyophilization of the contained material with a minimum of time and energy expenditure by forming the material into a frozen shell to increase the surface area of the material and to minimize the thickness of a given quantity of material which is to be lyophilized. In a typical embodiment of the invention, a container is provided with a congruent, flexible core which is inserted into the container to force the material into the space lying between the container and the core. Expansion of the material on freezing acts to deform the flexible core rather than to break the container.

Abstract: A compact, efficient, and economical ice machine is provided which allows rapid production of ice chips. The preferred ice machine includes an elongated, flexible member formed as an endless loop which is rotated through a freezing tube by means of a harvesting pulley. The freezing tube includes an evaporator therearound in order to freeze water in the tube and around the flexible member portion located therein. After an ice column is formed, hot refrigerant gas passes through the evaporator to loosen the ice column from the tube interior whereupon the pulley rotates to withdraw the flexible member portion from the frezing tube and the ice column attached thereto upwardly therefrom. The ice breaking element adjacent the pulley engages the ice column and fractures it into ice chips as the flexible portion passes over the pulley.

Abstract: In a closed loop system for making ice confections having a holding stick embedded therein, there are provided: dies for the ice confections, rigid plates each supporting plural rows of dies, guide means for moving the plates along a closed loop path coplanar with the plates, the path including two straight, side-by-side main sections and two minor sections disposed between the main sections and extending at least partway along a semicircular arc, filling and shake-out stations, and chilling means acting on the dies, the minor sections of the flat die travel path defining areas of intervention on the dies and being engaged by at least the shake-out station.

Abstract: A tiered ice cream product tray for attaching to a conveyor includes a sheet member with a mounting region for affixing the sheet to the conveyor, and a support region extending therefrom and including vertically offset horizontal portion support tables. At least one region of the sheet member extends transversely between an upper end thereof at a first product support table, and a lower end thereof at an adjacent product support table. An ice cream product fabrication system includes a conveyor oriented along a direction of conveyor motion and having a plurality of such trays attached thereto. The vertical regions of the tray are aligned parallel to the direction of motion of the conveyor. A preferred embodiment of the system fabricates ice cream portion having a thickness t, and the vertical faces have a height at least (t/2). The system includes a stick inserting work station for inserting a stick into ice cream portions along a horizontal direction transverse to the direction of motion.

Abstract: Apparatus for the production of spherical portions of ice-cream. The apparatus includes means forintroducing an ice-cream mixture having a creamy consistency into a hemispherical lower mould in a sufficient quantity to fill the mould and form a protruding cap having the same volume as that of the mould;means for smoothing the protruding cap into the shape of a hemisphere being a smoothing tool comprising a portion of the generatrix of a hemisphere which describes on rotation a hemispherical shape;means for freezing the completed sphere of ice-cream; andmeans for removing the sphere of ice-cream from the mould.The smoothing tool has the shape of a hemisphere, onto the crown of which there is fastened an extension piece, its generatrix being perforated in between some remaining segments.

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: Apparatus for producing novel three dimensional shaped frozen confection products on a stick. A molded slug of frozen confection having a generic shape is converted into a three dimensional frozen confection having any desired shape including shapes having variable cross-sections and undercut portions. The desired final shape is formed by the application of pressure to the slug, without significant melting of the slug, using a split mold which defines the final three dimensional shape by controlling the temperature of the slug and the relative size and shape of the slug and mold cavity.

Abstract: A machine for making ice creams, in particular ice creams of the stick-supported type, comprising a freezing tank through which parallel arranged rows of molds are made to progress intermittently under control of a pull chain, dosing, stick-inserting and product-lifting-up units. The pull chain is designed to be moved by an at least double step. The freezing tank is conveniently elongated in shaped, and the different units have double elements whereby a double productivity of the machine can be obtained, with the number of advances per minute being equal.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing frozen confections includes a plurality of metering pumps which equally divide a flow of semi-solid confectionary material into a like plurality of flows and delivers such flows to a like plurality of forming heads. The forming heads are reciprocated along a generally diagonal axis relative a conveyor during formation of confectionary products and in the opposite direction upon completion of formulation. The speed of translation in one direction is preferably distinct from the speed in the other direction. If desired, such flows may be combined with other unidirectionally flowing material to form a layered product. A cutting wire severs the flows of combined confection material into a desired length product in timed relation to the reciprocation of the forming heads. The individual products are received on a moving conveyor which transports them to the next operating station.

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: The invention relates to the technical field of commercial plants for the production of icecreams, and in particular to a plant for producing popsicles and icecreams incorporating a holding stick.A plant (1) is provided, according to the invention, which has dies or molds (2) moving along a closed path with two superimposed main sections (4,5) which fit predominantly within a thermally insulated casing (10), and refrigerating members (18,22) including a plurality of cooler sets (18) fitting into said casing (10) and each having at least one fan (20a,20b) operative to circulate cool air along both main sections (4,5) of the path. The plant (1) also comprises a hot air thaw station (9) located at one end of said casing (10).

Abstract: This machine is in particular suitable for forming ice creams and/or popsicles or ice lollies with and without a holding stick, and comprises a freezing station and product metering and withdrawing units. The machine further comprises an intermittently advancing mechanism formed by at least one pair of frames movable with respect to each other and to a plurality of molds containing the product to be frozen to impress on the molds an intermittent forward movement. Preferably this mechanism comprises two pairs of movable frames arranged side-by-side and a transport member shifting the molds from one pair to the other. The metering and the withdrawing units are arranged side-by-side at two different pairs and the molds rest on the frames through support butts so as to ease substitution for other molds of different dimensions.

Abstract: It has been recognized long ago that stickless frozen block bodies of a size corresponding to the ice block bodies of ordinary ice lollies may be produced with the aid of standard freezing machines for producing the ice lollies, when these machines are modified such that the individual sticks are replaced by pin members on an uptake device as operable to lift a whole row of ice bodies up from their freezing pocket members, whereafter the ice bodies are caused to be retracted from the pins. However, the correct and automatic mounting of the uptake device relative the freezing pockets is very problematic, and the invention provides for the improvement that use is made of individual sticks for the single freezing pockets, whereby these sticks, prior to their final retraction from the ice bodies, may be handled automatically with the use of both mounting and retraction means, which are already highly developed for the production of ice lollies.

Abstract: Plate freezer apparatus has a plurality of vertically disposed refrigerated plates separated from each other by spacer frames to define a plurality of open topped compartments to receive product to be frozen. The assembly of plates and spacer frames are held together by spring tensioned rods which apply a compressive force to the assembly. Each plate has a number of wedge surfaces and a plate separating device engages the wedge surfaces of an adjacent pair of plates to thereby separate those plates to enable the spacer frame and frozen material therebetween to be withdrawn. The frozen material is removed from the spacer frame which is then re-inserted between the separated plates and the separating device removed before the compartment is refilled with product to be frozen.

Abstract: The disclosed frozen confection machine is provided with a series of mold bars each of which contain a plurality of cavities for containing confection material which is frozen in said cavities. The machine is provided with a mechanism for inserting sticks into the partially frozen confection material, means for defrosting the exterior of the cavities to facilitate removal of the frozen confections and a selectively operable device responsive to the inadvertent retention of confection material in one or more cavities to remove the retained confection material by inverting the mold bar and spraying hot water into the cavities to remove the confection material. Moreover the confection machine provides laterally opposed to chains circulating in a closed path in which one reach of the chain, the working reach, associated with filling, freezing, stick insertion and confection removal devices and a return reach.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing pop-shaped frozen confections at line speeds exceeding 20 cycles per minute is disclosed. A conveyor system for transporting pop-shaped metal molds is provided. The molds are filled with a flowable confection so that the top portions of the molds are left unfilled. The molds are then transported into a freezing zone to partially freeze the contents. A stick is inserted into the partially frozen contents of each mold. Next, a liquid cryogen, such as liquid nitrogen, is added to each mold to cover the exposed surface of the material. The liquid cryogen is then vaporized and the molds are removed from the freezing zone. Then, the completely frozen, pop-shaped confections are removed from each mold and immersed in a water bath to form an encapsulating ice shell thereon. The ice-coated frozen confections may be subsequently packaged.

Abstract: Frozen confection articles are produced in non-enveloped, openable moulds by subjecting the closed moulds to an innoxious freezing medium such as very cold air. An apparatus for producing such frozen or moulded articles comprises a plurality of parallel, endless rows of moulds moving along a closed path of straightlined and curved configurations, these moulds each consisting of opposed, mutually hinged mould parts, which are forced together during motion along the straightlined parts of said path, as corresponding to setting or freezing zones, while the moulds are openable for discharging of the hardened or frozen products as they are guided along the curved path, in which the moulds diverge from each other and thus provide space for the opening thereof.

Abstract: Ice lollies are frozen in two-parted moulds which are inserted in rows of freezing pockets in an ice lolly freezing machine. The moulds are thawed loose from the freezing pockets in which freezing has been carried out, are lifted out of the freezing pockets, separated for releasing the frozen ice lollies, assembled and inserted again into a row of freezing pockets. Before the moulds are lifted, a moderate heating of the freezing pockets is carried out sufficient for thawing loose the moulds with respect to the pockets. Then the moulds are lifted and moved to a position outside the area of such freezing pockets of such freezing machine. At the position the moulds are heated for thawing loose the ice lollies. Then the moulds are separated and the ice lollies removed while the moulds are positioned outside the area of the freezing pockets. Now the moulds are moved back to the area of the freezing pockets and are inserted into an empty row of freezing pockets.

Abstract: An apparatus for extraction of articles frozen in moulds in a freezing machine, comprises means for insertion of retaining means in the moulds for engagement with the articles. The apparatus further comprises means for lifting the retaining means for extraction of the articles. The retaining means for each mould comprise at least two plate sections adapted for insertion in a mould along the inner surfaces of two side walls of the latter facing each other. The plate sections ensure that the subject article is firmly gripped for extraction.

Abstract: A confection freezing machine has a freezing chamber through which passes an endless conveyor having a plurality of successive separate planular support plates. The mold elements are supported on the support plates with one or more mold chambers normally facing upwardly. After the mold chambers are filled, the mold elements are carried through the freezing chamber to harden the ice cream therein. At the discharge from the freezing chamber, the mold elements are successively and automatically pivoted to an upsidedown inverted position for release of the confection therefrom. The mold elements are then pivoted back to their normal position for recharging.

Abstract: Useful heat from an ice-maker is efficiently recovered and employed to heat water without any significant increase in the energy normally expanded in making ice. During ice-making, liquid refrigerant from a high-pressure receiver is expanded and supplied to an evaporator where ice-making occurs. Expanded refrigerant is returned to a compressor through an accumulator, and high-pressure vapor is condensed by heat-exchange with a circulating stream of water withdrawn from a storage tank. Condensed refrigerant is returned to the receiver through a restrictor. During the harvesting cycle, relatively warm, high pressure vapor from the receiver is fed to the evaporator, and any of it condensed to liquid therein is trapped in the accumulator. The compressor runs continuously throughout harvesting and ice-making, and any refrigerant trapped in the accumulator is used to subcool the high-pressure liquid prior to its expansion in the subsequent ice-making cycle.

Abstract: An improved method for extracting frozen stick confections from several mold cups of a mold strip of a stick confection freezing apparatus is disclosed. At a pre-extraction station, the sticks of the frozen confections are individually grasped and individually pulled with separate spring forces while the mold cups are heated from below by hot water sprays. Each confection is lifted from the mold cup as soon as the surface layer thereof sufficiently thaws, and before each confection is completely removed from the cup, it is released and dropped back into the cup. At a second extraction station, all of the confections are simultaneously removed and thereafter conveyed to apparatus for wrapping the frozen confections.

Abstract: An apparatus for freezing confection material includes a plurality of separate mold strips which are indexed in a closely spaced single file over several longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rows of nozzles. Coolant is forced upwardly from the nozzles in single vertical jets which impinge perpendicularly against the mold strips midway between adjacent mold cups. The mold cups are arranged with their wide side faces extending in their direction of travel, and the single jets of coolant impinge upon support wall portions of the mold strips which extend transversely between such opposing wide side faces. The mold strips have intermeshing end wall configurations that enable the coolant to be continuously sprayed without concern that the coolant may be injected upwardly between the strips to contaminate the confection material within the mold cups.

Abstract: An apparatus for freezing confection material includes a plurality of separate mold strips which are indexed in a closely spaced single file over several longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rows of nozzles. Coolant is forced upwardly from the nozzles in single vertical jets which impinge perpendicularly against the mold strips midway between adjacent mold cups. The mold cups are arranged with their wide side faces extending in their direction of travel, and the single jets of coolant impinge upon wall portions of the mold strips which extend transversely between such opposing wide side faces. The heat exchanger for refrigerating the coolant includes a vertically super-imposed array of heat exchanger tubes that is located directly under the mold cups so that the coolant will drip from the mold cups onto the heat exchanger tubes. The coolant then cascades from upper to lower heat exchanger tubes and is refrigerated by the time it trickles into a collection housing situated below the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Cube or flake ice is provided by spraying atomized water against the bottom of a mechanically refrigerated plate or against a revolving disc disposed in facing contact with such a suface or with a wall of a freezing compartment of a household refrigerator, the water mist impinging on the surface freezing on contact to coat the surface and fill any concavities with ice, which is loosened to drop into a collecting bin by a defrosting cycle effected either by causing the flow of refrigerant in refrigeration tubing embodied in a stationary plate to be reversed in periodic, sequential order among several sectors in the plate, or by the action of a revolving disc carrying ice formed thereon continuously past a sector which is heated electrically or by incorporation of refrigerant condensing coils to produce in continuous or semi-continuous manner cubes, chips or flakes of ice.

Abstract: A shell freezer for the freezing of liquids in a container in a uniform layer on the interior walls of the container having belts rotating over rollers within a bath; rods are secured over the belts to act as stops for cylindrical containers placed on the belts, thereby causing the rotation of the containers. Underneath the rotating belt is a supportive platen which is covered with a fabric to allow smooth rotation of the belt while supporting a flask full of liquid. The bath may be tilted to a desired angle to allow more liquid to be frozen within a container. A novel heat exchanger cools the thermal transfer fluid which is circulated over the belts and back to the heat exchanger, to allow a minimum of such fluid in use.

Abstract: A system for the conversion of liquid phases of non-metallic substances into solid phases, especially polymerizable or crystallizable substances, provides a reaction chamber in the form of an upstanding substantially tubular-shaped hollow body, at the upper end of which there is introduced the liquid phase and at the lower end of which there is continuously withdrawn the solid phase. The reaction chamber is enclosed at least at its upper region containing the liquid phase by a jacket of polygonal cross-section, wherein the wall sections of the chamber which in cross-section is polygonal are formed in each case by a run of an endless band which bears against the associated jacket section, each such band moving continuously downwardly by means of the aforesaid run and being substantially synchronously driven with the remaining bands.

Abstract: A quick freezing apparatus wherein a tank is charged with such medium which is liquid at the normal temperature and in a wide low temperature range under the atmospheric pressure as ethyl alcohol so as to be able to circulate and a food to be frozen is contained in a side-sealed freezing pan or endless conveyer belt and is passed through the liquid medium.In order to omit the side seals, the edge parts in the lengthwise direction of the endless conveyer belt are projected above the liquid level of the liquid medium in the tank.Also, as required, it is possible to spray the freezing pans with the coolant in the form of a mist or liquid.

Abstract: A conveyor carries a plurality of frozen confection molds evenly spaced within rows. The molds incorporate a plurality of uniform spiral grooves to form spiral fins on the frozen confections. Ingredients are inserted into the molds and frozen with sticks embedded therein. An extractor arm is positioned above the row of frozen product and lowered to cause clamps to grip the sticks. When the extractor arm is raised, a cam pivots the clamps about a vertical axis to permit the fins to follow the spiral contour of the mold grooves as the frozen confections are withdrawn from the molds. The frozen confections are subsequently released from the clamp elements by a trip bar which simultaneously opens the jaws of the clamps.

Abstract: This invention involves applying a warm coffee extract onto a freezing surface in a plurality of layers until a desired thickness is obtained. Thus applied, there is continual melting and refreezing of the extract. This permits the formation of large ice crystals whereby the finished product is darker and more coffee-like in color. Overall efficiency of the freezing process is also increased allowing higher productivity rates.

Abstract: An improved freeze refining method including the steps of collecting a heterogeneons material in crystalline form from a heated melt containing pure and impure materials and removing the collected crystals while maintaining the integrity of the crystals.