Abstract: A system and method for making a frozen confection having a plurality of differently flavored or colored sections are provided. After creating in a mold a frozen outer layer comprising the ingredients for a first flavor or color, a carving means, such as a heated tool or a nozzle ejecting high-pressure gas, removes a portion of the frozen outer layer in accordance with a predetermined pattern. The ingredients for a second flavor or color then are added, and the mold is subjected to freezing to form the final product. Alternatively, a tool having protrusions contacting portions of the inner surface of the mold is inserted into the mold, before or after insertion of the first ingredients, the first ingredients are frozen, the tool is removed, and the second ingredients then are added and frozen. In another embodiment, a first flavor or color is sprayed onto the inner wall of the mold in a pattern and frozen.

Abstract: A system and method for freezing large quantities of a liquid or slurry are disclosed. The system includes a product containment apparatus for containing the liquid to be frozen, a freeze station for freezing the liquid, and a lift for raising the product containment apparatus to the freeze station for freezing. Freezing members extending from the freeze station include a pair of plate carriers mounted in a V configuration mounted within a V shaped casing. The shape of the casing and sloping walls of the product containment apparatus facilitate the removal of the ice block from the freeze station and the product containment apparatus from the frozen block, respectively. Preferably, the freezing members are provided with a baffle mounted at the open ends of the plate carriers to facilitate the sweeping of lubricating oil entrained in a refrigerant into a suction path within the freezing member so it may be removed. Alternative embodiments and processes are disclosed.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for freezing food products utilizing a conventional refrigeration cycle. Refrigerant is fed into an array of heat transfer tubes mounted for immersion in a container of perishable food product whereby heat is transferred from the food product to the refrigerant causing the food product to freeze within a predetermined radius of each heat transfer tube. Each heat transfer tube is comprised of an outer fluid conveying member and an inner fluid conveying member that is generally coaxial or concentric with the outer fluid conveying member. After the food product is frozen, the food product container is lowered, leaving the frozen food product suspended by the heat transfer tubes. A support is placed under the frozen product. The frozen product is removed from the apparatus by heating the tubes so as to thaw a quantity of frozen material in the immediate vicinity of the tubes, which causes the weight of the product to shift from the tubes to the support.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making ice products having a biting texture from an aqueous solution of non-ionic species in a container having a low thermal conductivity and a surface to volume ratio of at least 3.3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mass production device for ice carvings mainly for the automatic production of ice carvings. The invention has a conveyor belt, molding dies, a cooling water tank, a freezing mixture tank, a boring device, an injection device, a temperature rising device and a stripping device. Filtered and cool water is poured into the dies, and the dies delivered into a freezing mixture tank through the conveyor belt for freezing the surface of water in the dies first. A boring hole is used for injection of coloring liquid and decorative objects to be embedded in the frozen carvings. When the dies exit from the freezing mixture tank, they enter a temperature rising device to slightly raise their temperature to facilitate removal of the dies by means of hydraulic cylinder of the stripping device. Ice carvings are thus accomplished through automatic production.

Abstract: A method of transporting material includes forming a structural encasement from the material and applying a force to the encasement to transport the material to a desired destination. The structural encasement allows for the transmission of applied forces through the encasement. A core material may be encased within the structural encasement so that both materials are transported together. Confinement forces are transmitted throughout the structural encasement to maintain the core material encased within the encasement. A preferred apparatus for practicing the method includes an inner nozzle for projecting core material and an outer nozzle surrounding the inner nozzle for projecting a hollow column of encasement material around the core material so that the core material is encased within the column. The outer nozzle further applies force to the column to direct the column and the encased core material to the desired destination.

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: The invention relates to a process for producing ice figures as well as a device for this purpose. A device in accordance with invention (901) is provided with at least two cooling bodies (905, 906) facing one another, and these are washed by water inside a container (902). The cooling bodies are cooled to below the freezing point of water by means of a refrigeration compressor (904) using coolant so that ice layers (918, 919) form on each cooling body (905, 906), and grow onto one another and then contact one another, so that the two ice layers freeze together, so that a single-piece ice figure is produced, where the completion of the single-piece ice figure is detected for example with a sensor (922). Once the single-piece ice figure is completed it is detached from the cooling bodies (905, 906) and removed.

Abstract: A machine for making and harvesting blocks of ice which is totally automatic. The machine has an ice block forming ice chamber with a counter balanced hinged lid as the bottom wall of the chamber. A small amount of water is introduced into the lid which is frozen to form an ice seal between the bottom lid and the bottom flanged edge of the side walls of the chamber. The balance of the water according to the size of block ice is then introduced and frozen. The block is harvested by defrosting using a hot gas cycle to break the ice seal and defrost the side walls of the ice chamber. The ice block falls by gravity from the chamber onto a slide system. The hinged lid returns to the closed position and the machine restarts automatically to produce the next block of ice.

Abstract: Apparatus for making large blocks of crystal clear ice for ice carving has a tank of brine of freezing temperature. A water can filled with water of the size and form of the desired ice block is in the tank. A tube extends down to the bottom of the container. A source of air under pressure about one and three-quarter pounds/square inch, is connected to the tube to bubble air out of the container to drive air out of the water to be frozen, by bubbling action. A rotating cam is connected to oscillate the tube up and down. A resilient hollow bumper is connected to the bottom of the tube, the cam being designed to raise the tube a predetermined amount, approximately two inches, and then permitting a drop, whereby, as ice forms from the bottom, the tube is gradually retracted so that it will not become frozen in.

Abstract: A channel block ice making system includes a plurality of elongated channels and an associated refrigeration system for supplying coolant to the walls of the channels to form long, heavy channel blocks of ice. Water is recirculated from one end of said channels to the other end thereof, and after the channel blocks of ice are solidly frozen, the excess water including salts and the like is drained off, the outer surfaces of the channel blocks of ice are warmed, and they are advanced so that the ends of the blocks of ice protrude from the ends of the channels, where standard size blocks of ice are cut off. Fins on the sides of the channels score the blocks of ice so that the standard size blocks may be later automatically broken into smaller blocks and packaged. A door or gate is provided for retaining water within the channels during the freezing process, and for permitting subsequent easy removal of the ice.

Abstract: An improved ice cube-forming machine and system comprising a plurality of hollow fluid-conducting conduits in which the outer surface thereof is provided with pocket members extending into the conduit for engagement by any fluid being conducted therethrough to selectively freeze and thaw the contents of the pocket members. A discrete water source feeds each ice cube-forming pocket for freezing while refrigerant is passed through the hollow conduits. When the water is frozen within the pockets, a control system reacts thereto to stop the flow of refrigerant and initiate the flow of heated fluid through the hollow conduit to thaw at least the surface of the ice cube and release the ice cube therefrom whence, as by gravity, it drops into a collection receptacle. The pocket members can be either a plurality of integral depressions formed therein or independent members secured thereto.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing cryogenic targets, and the target itself and including a mold assembly, a cryogenic system, a control system and the target produced in the mold and adapted to be propelled by a target thrower assembly.

Abstract: An ice maker employing a relatively thin ice tray with sealed ice cube receptacles and having a freezing chamber of relatively small volume cooled by a high capacity cooling plate. The ice cube receptacles are sealed by a frangible cover to keep liqid water therein and to maintain frozen water in a sanitary state until the frangible cover is ruptured for the ice cubes to be used. The ice maker housing also may include other chambers for holding containers of food and drink. The cooling surface of the freezing chamber may be sloped for drainage and the ice maker provided with a spring loaded device for ejecting the ice tray when a housing door is opened. Detection switches and indicator lights may be actuated by insertion and removal of the tray. Multiple freezing chambers may be jointly cooled by a single cooling plate.

Abstract: An ice making and dispensing machine comprising a chamber for holding a layer of ice particles floating in water held at approximately freezing temperature, a remote dispensing head, an external freezing coil evaporator for freezing water into particulate ice forms, a pump disposed at the surface of the ice-water mixture for moving the mixture to the remote dispensing head, a system of conduits through which the mixture is circulated to the remote dispensing head, a return water pump with appropriate control mechanism and control mechanism with combination manual and electric control variable low-rate dispensing valves and operators, suitable for use with computer circuitry for delivering the ice, soda and syrups through the dispensing head directly into the beverage glass, pitcher or other container.

Abstract: A ice maker employing a relatively thin ice tray with sealed ice cube receptacles and having a freezing chamber of relatively small volume cooled by a high capacity cooling plate. The ice cube receptacles are sealed by a frangible cover to keep liquid water therein and to maintain frozen water in a sanitary state until the frangible cover is ruptured for the ice cubes to be used. The ice make housing also may include other chambers for holding containers of food and drink. The cooling surface of the freezing chamber may be sloped for drainage and the ice maker provided with a spring loaded device for ejecting the ice tray when a housing door is opened. Detection switches and indicator lights may be actuated by insertion and removal of the tray. Multiple freezing chambers may be jointly cooled by a single cooling plate.

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: An icemaker and ice dispenser combination is characterized by an air sparge system for percolating air through water in the icemaker as the water is being frozen to ice in order to produce clear ice. The air is obtained from an ice storage hopper of the ice dispenser, and after percolation through the water in the icemaker, the air is returned to the hopper for recirculation between the hopper and icemaker. By virtue of the arrangement, the air is free of outside contaminants and may be used over and over again to maintain clear ice, and since the air is chilled by ice in the hopper, increases are obtained in the cooling cycle efficiency of the icemaker. The icemaker includes an improved air diffuser that uniformly percolates air through the water.

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: The device comprises a fixed gassing box (1) a moulding box (2) and a head (2A) for receiving and discharging gas. The box (2) is provided with a massive block (7) of aluminium which forms a pattern-plate and has a multitude of orifices (8) extending therethrough. This block has a sufficient thermal inertia to form a frozen crust as soon as the moulding box (2) is filled with a pre-moistened sand or the like. This permits obtaining a high rate of production of frozen moulds or cores having a very good surface condition, a good stability of shape and high and homogeneous mechanical properties.

Abstract: Ice, in particular, block ice containing soluble materials dispersed therein is produced in an effective manner on a commercial scale by a process comprising cooling and freezing raw water for ice making in an ice can while air blowing and agitating by a blowing means, characterized by adding and dissolving soluble additives or materials in the raw water, effecting the air blowing and agitating with air under a pressure close to a minimum pressure required for dispersing bubbles in the raw water and thereby dispersing and incorporating the soluble additives or materials in the ice without substantially deteriorating the transparency of the ice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the home freezing of water in relatively large blocks for subsequent use in insulated portable ice chests for maintaining the contents cool over a period of days is disclosed and includes a plurality of support racks of truncated pyramidal configuration having open rectangular tops and bottoms and trapezoidal side walls of an open mesh configuration along with a like plurality of relatively flat floor panels each having a groove for receiving an upper edge of a subadjacent rack and a groove for receiving an edge of a superior rack so that a plurality of flexible open-topped containers may be stacked in a column in a freezer on successive floor panels with each floor panel supported by a corresponding rack to allow free air circulation around the containers to faciliate cooling as well as supporting and storing the water and the subsequent blocks of ice.

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 self-contained, decorative ice bowl freezing apparatus, including a bowl mold for containing the water to be frozen into the ice bowl; air circulation means disposed within the bowl mold for supplying a stream of air to the freezing water to slow the freezing thereof to provide ice in greater clarity; support means for the air circulation means; a freezer tank containing a refrigerant liquid into which the bowl mold is disposed and held at a selected level; and refrigerant liquid circulation means disposed within the freezer tank for continuously circulating the refrigerant liquid to prevent stratification of temperature levels within the refrigerant liquid, whereby uniformity of freezing of the water in the bowl mold is enhanced.

Abstract: A process for forming a moulded confection, such as an ice confection, which has a protruding or re-entrant shape (i.e. with a surface portion having a negative draft angle with respect to a desired direction of mould release), characterized by:(a) filling a mouldable confection mix into a thin-walled flexible elastic mould having a cavity corresponding to said protruding or re-entrant shape, and also having in its wall at least one thin-walled flexible elastic cleft or pleat; and(b) solidifying the mouldable mix within the mould, and withdrawing the solidified confection mix from the mould so as to cause the mould to distort and the cleft or pleat to open or unfold and release a confection of said protruding or re-entrant shape from the mould.

Abstract: The steps of handling ice cans in an ice making plant, such as placing the ice cans in alignment within one or more ice tanks, transferring ice cans each containing formed ice block to a stripping-off area, and placing and separating of the cover lid relative to ice can units, are automatically performed by an overhead travelling crane.Particularly, several ice can units are placed in the ice tank such that pairs of lugs provided on each ice can unit are arrayed in two straight lines to enable the overhead crane to selectively lift the ice cans.In order to produce high-quality ice blocks which are completely transparent through to the core portion thereof, each ice can is correlated with means for agitating ice making water contained therein and is connected with a piping for exchanging core water, in which impurities or foreign particles are likely to gather, with fresh water.The stripping-off of the ice blocks from the ice cans is also performed by an automatic system.

Abstract: A continuously refrigerated, automatically ejected block ice machine having means to measure and supply a specified amount of water to a water distributor which appropriately directs each measured amount of water to each of a plurality of product cells in which the ice is formed, the product cells, being an integral part of the evaporator of a refrigeration system. The water which is permitted to enter the bottom of the product cell forcing up the frozen block of ice where it is harvested. Upon the completion of the water entering the product cell, means are provided to remove water proximate the cell to prevent freezing. The operation is automated through each of the product cells, each cell filled with new water and ejecting the frozen ice block, the new water permitted to be frozen and the operation repeated.

Abstract: A method for producing frozen confections of re-entrant shape using moulds made of flexible, elastic material, comprising filling moulds made of said material with confection mix, inserting a handle into the mix, contacting the outside of the filled mould with a freezant so as to freeze the mix and anchor the handle, and withdrawing the handle, whereby the mould distorts and expands to release the frozen product. Distortion of the shape of the mould due to the pressure of liquid freezant is avoided by filling the mould with confection mix prior to its immersion in the freezant, partially immersing it until the exterior of the liquid mix has frozen, and then equalizing the levels of the mix and the freezant.

Abstract: An ice making machine comprising a refrigeration system for supplying refrigerant to an evaporator assembly associated with a plurality of inverted ice forming molds or cups having a water spray bar located therebelow; ice formed in the cups is delivered to a bin mounted on a pivotable door structure which is selectively removable in order to provide for access to the ice producing equipment and refrigeration system for purposes of service, repair, cleaning and the like; the plurality of cups being mounted in a plastic platen which is cooperable with the evaporator assembly of the refrigeration system; a control system is provided for selectively energizing the condenser fan motor and for actuating a water pump to supply water to the ice in the inverted cups during the harvest cycle, whereby to maintain the refrigerant pressure at a desired level and accelerate the harvest cycle.

Abstract: Refrigerant is cooled under atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature to a temperature below that of the freezing point of water under atmospheric conditions and is then passed through an automated plant for making cans of ice and an ice storage facility. The plant includes machinery for automatically filling ice making cans and discharging the ice from the cans once it is formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming ice cubes mold means are provided having walls that define a plurality of separate cavities. A resilient, pliable empty bag is brought into engagement in a mold to be frozen and is placed in contact with the mold means. Preferably the mold means is comprised of two mold sections between which is sandwiched the liquid pliable package which because of its inherent resiliency and pliability the liquid filled package conforms to the shape of the cavities in the mold means. Passageways are provided that interconnect adjacent ones of the cavities so that the resulting frozen articles are connected to each other by readily frangible sections. In one form of the invention a reservoir is provided for containing the liquid to be frozen as well as a plurality of conduit means that are used for filling a number of the pliable packages positioned within the mold means.