Continuous Longitudinal-type Conveyor Patents (Class 62/380)
  • Publication number: 20100199703
    Abstract: Apparatus for thermal gas treatment of objects carried on an endless conveyor, in particular food items, where said apparatus comprises: a housing separated in two or more sections (1,2), where a first section comprises means (3) for moving said first section in relation to a second section; an endless conveyor (5) belt arranged inside said housing and projecting outside said housing in a first and second end, where said endless conveyor has an upper run suitable to carry the objects and a lower return run; two or more gas conditioning units (7, 12, 13) arranged inside said housing, where the units are arranged one downstream of another along the conveyor, for directing a treated gas towards the endless conveyor; substantially gas tight partitions (8) separating the gas conditioning units from each other, creating separate treatment zones, where said treatment zones are only connected adjacent the endless conveyor; where said housing substantially completely encloses said gas conditioning units, partitions tr
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Henrik Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20100162732
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing temperature of items includes an enclosure having an inlet and an outlet for the items within the enclosure; a conveyor for conveying the items within the enclosure from the inlet to the outlet; one or more delivery nozzles positioned to deliver gaseous cryogen and liquid or solid cryogen at supersonic velocity to the items on the conveyor. The apparatus delivers supersonic gaseous cryogen and fine liquid cryogen droplets onto the surface of food items to cool or freeze the food items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Linde, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Newman
  • Publication number: 20100162727
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for reducing temperature of food products on a conveyor disposed within a chamber including transporting the food products on the conveyor moving in a direction within the chamber; introducing a mixture of a gas and solid or liquid cryogen into the chamber; and pulsing a turbulent flow of the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen alternately back and forth across the conveyor in a direction transverse or perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Linde. Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Newman
  • Publication number: 20100122546
    Abstract: An ice-making device that includes a duct through which ice is dispensed and a duct-covering part for opening and closing the duct. An ice conveying part conveys the ice dispensed through the duct. A driving speed of the ice conveying part increases for a previously set initial driving time when the dispensing of the ice starts, and the ice conveying part is driven at a previously set target speed when the initial driving time elapses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seung Do Han, Ho Youn Lee, Young Jin Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Sung Yong Shin
  • Publication number: 20100050656
    Abstract: A multi-stage continuous liquid chilling system for chilling particulate food product with a chilling liquid. Particulate product is conveyed through a rotating drum as vanes inside the drum control and move the product from the inlet towards the outlet. As the product is conveyed it is tumbled and mixed with the chilling liquid in a succession of processing sections, each including a flood portion and a drain portion. In both sections the food product is exposed to a spray of chilled liquid, which Is drained off and used in an earlier stage in the processing cycle. While product is moved from the inlet to the outlet of the drum the chilling liquid is pumped in the opposite direction with a series of transfer pumps each connected to the drain sections in each chilling zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: BLENTECH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Darrell C. Horn
  • Patent number: 7659111
    Abstract: A method and a device for improved freezing of biological containing living cells is disclosed. Directional cooling coupled with agitation, preferably rotation, of the vessel containing the biological sample allows for the freezing of large volume samples at much greater rates than before. Whether a sample is large or not, the greater thermal homogeneity during the freezing process as well as the resulting crystal morphology yield a frozen sample which is exceptionally suited for lyophilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Core Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: Uri Meir, Yoram Amsalem, Yehudit Natan, Amir Arav
  • Publication number: 20090308263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the refrigerating and/or the freezing of starting substances, in particular of food, comprising two treatment zones, which are enclosed by a housing and which abut directly on one another, wherein heat can be extracted from the starting substances in at least one of the treatment zones in direct or indirect contact with cryogenic liquefied gas, while the second treatment zone encompasses a conveyor belt for conveying the starting substances through the second treatment zone. The device comprises a gas suction device, by means of which a drop of pressure can be generated within the housing and due to which the cold gas, which is generated in the first treatment zone by means of evaporation of cryogenic liquefied gas, discharges from the first treatment zone and subsequently flows through the second treatment zone and also contributes there to the cooling of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Rudolf Erwin Berghoff
  • Publication number: 20090255289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the making and crushing of ice cubes in a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having a manufacturing unit for the making of ice cubes as well as having a crusher for the crushing of the ice cubes made in the manufacturing unit, with the manufacturing unit and the crusher being arranged in a common assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Volker Friedmann, Georg Dorner, Holger Jendrusch
  • Publication number: 20090255419
    Abstract: A device for producing a tenderized meat loaf Meat is separated from hide and bone, and cut into small pieces which are thermally homogenized to a freezing temperature. The pieces of meat are compressed into a meat bale which is then sliced into slices greater than 0.6 millimeters in thickness. The slices are collected and vacuum extruded into meat loaf product which may be processed and handled at a temperature approximating freezing, without substantial risk of inadvertent cleavage or destruction of the meat loaf. Due to the laminate construction, the final meat product forms an integral piece of meat which has a high degree of resulting tenderness and a high quality texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventor: Sam A. Kirsch
  • Patent number: 7587903
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for surface crust freezing of a food product utilizes a refrigeration shell enclosing a freezing chamber, the freezing chamber having a cavity shaped to substantially accommodate the shape of the exterior surface of the food product; the cavity communicating with the refrigeration shell; a transport substrate to carry the food product into the freezing chamber; a cryogen supply; and a gas circulation device in the refrigeration shell in communication with the cryogen supply to introduce a cooling flow of gas containing cryogen into the cavity so as to contact the food product along its exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Newman, Stephen A. McCormick, D. Scott Boyles, Thomas Edward Kilburn
  • Publication number: 20090193832
    Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigerator, in which cold-storage (1) and freezer rooms (2) are situated at upper and lower parts, respectively, in which ice made at the freezer room (2) of the lower part is dispensed at the cold-storage room (1) of the upper part, and by which a user can pick up the ice without bending over to enhance user's convenience. The present invention includes a body (B) having a cold-storage room (1) provided to an upper part and a freezer room (2) provided to a lower part, an ice maker (400) provided to the freezer room to make ice, an ice bank (600) receiving the ice made by the ice maker, and a transport mechanism sending the ice discharged from the ice bank (600) toward the cold-storage room (1) via an ice transport passage (200a, 300). Therefore, the present invention sufficiently secures the spaces of the cold-storage and freezer rooms to raise spatial efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Seung Hwan Oh
  • Publication number: 20090183642
    Abstract: A tempering channel (1) for tempering confectioneries (4) includes a tempering tunnel (2) and a conveyor belt (5) having an upper part (11) and a lower part (12). A transfer location (8) is located at the conveyor belt (5). The confectioneries (4) arrive at the transfer location (8) to be placed on the upper part (11) of the conveyor belt (5). The conveyor belt (5) transports the confectioneries (4) through the tempering tunnel (2). A first tempering apparatus (6) tempers the confectioneries (4) while they are transported through the tempering tunnel (2). The tempering channel (1) includes a control unit (16) and at least one sensor (15) sensing the temperature of the lower part (12) of the conveyor belt (5). The sensor (15) is connected to the control unit (16) to transmit a signal to the control unit (16) depending on the sensed temperature. A second tempering apparatus (14) is connected to the control unit (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Sollich KG
    Inventor: Rudiger BLASING
  • Publication number: 20090145158
    Abstract: An dispensing system suitable for lifting and dispensing ice through the refrigerator compartment door of a bottom-mount refrigerator or lifting and dispensing ice from an undercounter ice maker to a dispenser on the countertop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: J. JEFFERY ANSELMINO, JIM J. PASTRYK, NIHAT CUR, ANDREW M. TENBARGE, KAREN J. QUERFURTH, DOUGLAS D. LECLEAR
  • Patent number: 7540168
    Abstract: A cryogenic storage container having a tank with an interior and an open top. At least two and preferably three trays are independently rotatably mounted within the interior of the housing so that an upper tray is positioned above one or more lower trays. Each tray has a plurality of compartments and each compartment is adapted to receive a source unit container. At least one cold working area is formed on the upper tray while an extraction tool selectively engages and moves stored unit containers from any of the trays and to the cold working area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Custom Biogenic Systems
    Inventors: Cass Schumann, Edward Teper, Jr., Kevin Heintz, Scott Walker, John Brothers
  • Publication number: 20090120107
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Cemal Oztas, Alain Cloarec
  • Publication number: 20090090112
    Abstract: A cryogenic enhanced mechanical freezer system and method are provided. The disclosed system includes a mechanical freezer compartment adapted for freezing food products on a conveyor, a cryogen injection system adapted to directly inject cryogen into a shrouded zone proximate the conveyor in the mechanical freezer compartment, an exhaust system adapted to rapidly evacuate cryogen vapors from the freezer compartment; and a freezer control system adapted to operatively control the exhaust system and cryogen injection system in response to selected inputs so as to not adversely affect the mechanical refrigeration capacity associated with the mechanical freezer. The selected inputs may include user inputs as well as inputs received from one or more temperature sensors disposed in the freezer compartment and a gas analyzer adapted to monitor concentrations of selected gases within the freezer compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: JOHN MARTIN GIRARD, DAVID JOSEPH KING, THEODORE HALL GASTEYER, III, JOHN NICHOLAS HRYN, RAYMOND JAMES SCHAEFFER, GERALD KUZYK, GLENN TOYOSHI SAMESHIMA, ROBERT J. CHAMBERLAIN
  • Publication number: 20090047404
    Abstract: A heat transfer system for refrigeration and/or heating of products includes a housing having an internal chamber, a baffle, a spiral pathway around the baffle, a gas flow pathway and a blower to circulate gas along the gas flow pathway. The baffle separates the chamber into upper and lower portions. The spiral pathway includes an upper spiral pathway within the upper portion, and a lower spiral pathway within the lower portion. The gas flow pathway includes an upper gas flow pathway across the upper spiral pathway and a lower gas flow pathway across the lower spiral pathway in which gas flow in the upper and lower gas flow pathways defines a circulation loop. The width of the upper gas flow pathway and upper spiral pathway are similar, and the width of the lower gas flow pathway and lower spiral pathway are similar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Michael Newman, Robert Muscato
  • Publication number: 20080305222
    Abstract: A freezing and thawing apparatus includes a freezing and thawing treatment tank for filling freezing and thawing treated water, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators for oscillating ultrasound different in frequency in the freezing and thawing treatment tank, a treated water cooler for cooling the freezing and thawing treated water, and an ultrasonic vibrator controller for controlling the ultrasonic vibrators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: SHINYO Industries, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shintaro Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20080196438
    Abstract: A freezer housing for a freezer for cooling and/or freezing of products lying on a conveyor belt, and which are conveyed through a freezing zone for the freezing, where upper ejector plates are provided above the conveyor belt and lower ejector plates are provided below the conveyor belt for inflow of air into the freezing zone while applying an impingement principle, where the ejector plates are provided with transverse air return ducts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Scanima A/S
    Inventors: Holger Colding-Kristensen, Frank Hellstrom
  • Publication number: 20080178613
    Abstract: A system and method of impingement cooling are presented. A cooling apparatus for cooling food product containers to a predetermined temperature includes a thermal treatment apparatus and a container support apparatus. The thermal treatment apparatus includes an air duct, a plurality of plenums coupled to the air duct, and a fan. The air duct is adapted to receive air from a first area where food products are kept at a temperature below the predetermined temperature. The plenums have orifices and the fan is adapted to push air received from the first area into the plurality of plenums. The container support apparatus includes a plurality of container supports adapted to support food product containers. The container support apparatus is positioned to interleave the food product containers with the plurality of plenums. Air discharged through the orifices impinges on food product containers supported by the container support apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Lloyd H. Smith
  • Publication number: 20080163640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an impingement freezer (1) comprising an outer housing (2) having side walls (3), ceiling (4) and floor (5), where the outer housing (2) comprises gas condition means (6), preferably for cooling gas and encloses a high-pressure chamber (7) formed by one or more ventilators (8) for circulating the gas, side panels (9) and a perforated plate (10), where the high-pressure chamber (7) is positioned so that the perforated plate (10) is facing a conveyor belt (11) for transporting products allowing the gas to be impinged through the perforated plate (10) onto the conveyor belt (11), which is arranged in a zone (19) between the perforated plate (10) and a plate member (12), and where the side walls (3) and the side panels (9) provides a return access channel (18) for the circulated gas, and the zone (19) is provided with at least one open side (20), which is open towards the return access channel (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Erik Benned Petersen
  • Patent number: 7374579
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a system for extruding, cut into strands, cooling, and chopping a ground food product. The system comprises a cooling unit, a conveyor belt urging the pieces through the unit, and a chopper for cutting the pieces exiting the unit. A cryogen source provides cryogen to the cooling unit. A feeder feeds the ground food product onto the conveyor belt adjacent an inlet of the unit. The feeder also extrudes the ground food product through a nozzle to place the stranded pieces onto the conveyor belt. A shear plate cuts the stranded pieces, while being extruded. A hydraulic system moves the shearing plate. The system is adapted to dispense cryogen to the cooling region at a rate sufficient to lower the temperature of the cut stranded pieces to a desired temperature when they exit the unit. A chopper cuts the extruded and stranded pieces immediately after freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventor: Edward Alan Larson
  • Patent number: 7322206
    Abstract: A device for refrigerating and/or freezing products in which the products are conveyed by a conveyor belt through a treatment zone equipped with refrigeration equipment. The conveyor belt passes over sliding rails which are mounted on a supporting frame. To prevent excessive sticking of products on the conveyor belt, the sliding rails are arranged with a convex and/or concave curvature in at least in some sections, so that the conveyor belt slides on predetermined curvatures. Shearing forces are therefore created at the contact faces of the conveyor belt and product, resulting in release of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rudolf Erwin Berghoff
  • Patent number: 7310968
    Abstract: A device for freezing and/or refrigerating articles, in which at least one cold gas generating device is provided in a refrigeration room and at least one fan is provided for distributing the cold gas in the refrigeration room. The fan is connected to a drive motor. In order not to damage the drive motor when cleaning the refrigeration room, the drive motor is accommodated in a motor room which is separate from the refrigeration room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Volker Kamm
  • Patent number: 7296431
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of cooling products includes a conveyor for transporting the products, through a refrigeration medium for cooling the products, agitation means disposed proximate to the conveyor for selective, intermittent contact with the conveyor to displace the conveyor from a plane of travel, thereby displacing the products on the conveyor during freezing to prevent the products from adhering to the conveyor or other of the products during freezing, at least one of the agitation means and the conveyor constructed and arranged to be positioned away from each other for the conveyor to move uninterrupted along the plane of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Muscato, Robert Boddaert, Stephen A McCormick, John Hamilton
  • Patent number: 7197883
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for cooling or heating product by passing it through a tunnel in which gaseous heat transfer medium such as cryogen vapor or steam is impinged toward the product and then drawn away from the product in a manner that minimizes intersection with impinging medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Hall Gasteyer, III, Gary Dee Lang, John Girard
  • Patent number: 7171815
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire Et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude Et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Didier Pathier, Alain Cloarec, Robert Taylor
  • Patent number: 7121107
    Abstract: A continuous transfer type freezer for cooling or freezing articles such as foodstuffs transferred on a conveyor belt by spraying chilled air from slit nozzles on the articles is provided in which chilled air jets rectified to have long spray travel is produced, thin stream layer of chilled air is formed on the surface of the article to achieve increased heat transfer, and exhaust passages of the chilled air are formed such that they do not affect the cooling function. A plurality of slit nozzles 5a, 6a are apposed above and under the conveyor belt along the belt transfer direction, each of the nozzles 5a, 6a is shaped such that it has an angled and succeeding parallel entrance way so that the chilled air is rectified in the entrance ways and spout from the nozzle opening at large velocity, and exhaust passages 12 are formed between each of the slit nozzles such that the chilled air spouted from the nozzles flows toward both lateral end sides of the conveyor belt 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kou Ishikura, Takahiro Arai, Akira Taniyama
  • Patent number: 7111474
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cooling products to be cooled, said device comprising a carrier for products to be cooled, a housing, a coolant supply for supplying coolant into the housing, and at least one opening of the housing for supplying and extracting the product to be cooled. At least one channel is provided in the region of the opening for receiving the coolant, said channel being actively connected to a suction-side connection of a fan and comprising an inlet which is arranged outside the housing, adjacent to the opening thereof. Preferably, two channels are provided, said channels being arranged opposite each other, adjacent to the opening, and being embodied in such a way that essentially only heated, gaseous coolant, i.e. which has already fulfilled its cooling purpose, is carried off, while removal by suction of the coolant which has not yet received the heat quantity is prevented from the inside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Volker Kamm
  • Patent number: 7100396
    Abstract: The invention concerns a climatic cabinet, in particular, a climatic cooling cabinet, whose interior is loaded or unloaded with specimen slides, with the aid of a transporting device. The loading and unloading take place through a loading opening which can be closed with a door, which opening is adapted, in its size, to the dimensions of the specimen slides and is located in a sidewall of the climatic cabinet. The climatic cabinet also has a gas supply device, whose at least one gas exhaust opening is situated in such a way that the cross-section of the loading opening is covered by a gas curtain, in the area of the gas exhaust openings when gas is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Melching, Olaf Brömsen, Dieter Bidlingmaier, Hermann Stahl
  • Patent number: 6976369
    Abstract: A spiral freezer for continuous duty in continuous food process lines has a freezer compartment enclosing a double-helix arrangement, of which there is a helical run of a food-carrying conveyor in combination with a helical ramp or slideway for the food-carrying conveyor's helical run to ascend or descend on. The helical ramp is an assembly of numerous heat exchanger tubes, each wound helically and positioned in set lanes in the overall assembly of the ramp. An external refrigerant-circulating system is connected to circulate refrigerant through the heat exchanger tubes in order that hot components like compressors and condensers be kept outside of the freezer compartment for better energy efficiency. The foregoing conveyor and heat exchanger arrangement provides close proximity between the source(s) of heat in the food product on the conveyor and the sink of that heat to the refrigerant flowing inside the heat exchanger tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Robert G. Nothum, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6912869
    Abstract: A unit for cooling or heating objects on a helical belt includes between adjacent tiers of the belt a distributor having a plurality of slots through which air or other gaseous heat transfer medium can be impelled onto product passing on the belt below the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Dee Lang
  • Patent number: 6895775
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for surface crust freezing of a food product utilizes a refrigeration shell enclosing a freezing chamber, the freezing chamber having a cavity shaped to substantially accommodate the shape of the exterior surface of the food product; the cavity communicating with the refrigeration shell; a transport substrate to carry the food product into the freezing chamber; a cryogen supply; and a gas circulation device in the refrigeration shell in communication with the cryogen supply to introduce a cooling flow of gas containing cryogen into the cavity so as to contact the food product along its exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Newman, Stephen A. McCormick, D. Scott Boyles, Thomas Edward Kilburn
  • Patent number: 6890442
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the automatic handling of bag systems in an installation. The method includes the steps of loading at least one bag system having a primary bag containing a body fluid such as blood and a secondary bag into a handling device, wherein the bag system is placed in a position such that no filtering of the body fluid takes place; automatically actuating the handling device so that the bag system is moved to a position wherein filtering occurs; and unloading the bag system from in the handling device when all the filtrate is received in the secondary bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: MacoPharma
    Inventors: Francis Goudaliez, Thierry Verpoort
  • Patent number: 6877327
    Abstract: Food products are frozen or cooled within a housing chamber defined by side walls between an ceiling and floor and having a cryogen supply, a food products conveyor extending into the chamber disposed between the ceiling and floor, by transporting the food products on the conveyor; the chamber containing at least one impingement hood disposed above the conveyor; the impingement hood including a shell including a top, opposed edges and opposed side walls supporting an impinger containing openings. Gas and solid or liquid cryogen are mixed within the impingement hood, the mixture of gas and cryogen are directed to the impinger, and impingement jets of the mixture are directed through an impingement plate onto the food products transported on the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Newman, Stephen A. McCormick, D. Scott Boyles, Robert Muscato
  • Publication number: 20040244400
    Abstract: A unit for cooling or heating objects on a helical belt includes between adjacent tiers of the belt a distributor having a plurality of slots through which air or other gaseous heat transfer medium can be impelled onto product passing on the belt below the slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Gary Dee Lang
  • Publication number: 20040216470
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling articles, particularly having applications for chilling extrusions, food, and similar articles, utilizing a vaporized cryogen in combination with conventional refrigeration. The vaporized cryogen provides a substantially dry atmosphere from which an evaporator of the conventional refrigeration unit may remove energy. The vaporized cryogen may be circulated at a controlled velocity to provide improved temperature control in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Thomas, Greg Brandt, Chris Gieseking, Dave Winship
  • Patent number: 6796142
    Abstract: A high capacity, continuous production blast freezer includes an insulated enclosure and a plurality of adjustable product-carrying trolleys, individually moveable with the enclosure from an entrance location to an exit location. A heat exchanger in the form of an evaporator is provided in the enclosure. The mechanical equipment for the refrigeration system can be placed within the enclosure and separated from the freezing cell by a bulkhead. In one embodiment the enclosure is in the form of a container adapted to be transportable by ship, rail or truck. The arrangement of the heat exchanger or evaporator relative to the product carrying devices and the enclosure is designed to maximize the capacity of the heat exchanger and minimize frost formation, while providing for a maximum amount of product space within the enclosure to maximize throughput of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Integrated Marine Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Burn
  • Publication number: 20040103672
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for surface crust freezing of a food product utilizes a refrigeration shell enclosing a freezing chamber, the freezing chamber having a cavity shaped to substantially accommodate the shape of the exterior surface of the food product; the cavity communicating with the refrigeration shell; a transport substrate to carry the food product into the freezing chamber; a cryogen supply; and a gas circulation device in the refrigeration shell in communication with the cryogen supply to introduce a cooling flow of gas containing cryogen into the cavity so as to contact the food product along its exterior surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: THE BOC GROUP INC NEW PROVIDENCE NJ
    Inventors: Michael D. Newman, Stephen A. McCormick, D. Scott Boyles, Thomas Edward Kilburn
  • Publication number: 20040099005
    Abstract: Food products are frozen or cooled within a housing chamber defined by side walls between an ceiling and floor and having a cryogen supply, a food products conveyor extending into the chamber disposed between the ceiling and floor, by transporting the food products on the conveyor; the chamber containing at least one impingement hood disposed above the conveyor; the impingement hood including a shell including a top, opposed edges and opposed side walls supporting an impinger containing openings. Gas and solid or liquid cryogen are mixed within the impingement hood, the mixture of gas and cryogen are directed to the impinger, and impingement jets of the mixture are directed through an impingement plate onto the food products transported on the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: THE BOC GROUP INC. NEW PROVIDENCE NJ
    Inventors: Michael D. Newman, Stephen A. McCormick, D. Scott Boyles, Robert Muscato
  • Patent number: 6725686
    Abstract: A tunnel freezer having a metal belt for carrying product therethrough, wherein the weight of said belt is from 1 kg per square meter of surface area to 6 kg per square meter of surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy P. Miller
  • Patent number: 6698227
    Abstract: A plant for continuous flow freezing of edible ice products is built up in a freezing section (100) with a tray conveyor (8), the drive chain of which leads trays carrying the items to be frozen from an entrance to the freezing section (100) and around a conveyor support frame (10), and where by means of at least one fan or blower (26), a flow of freezing air from at least one freezing aggregate (24) is brought to pass across the items to be frozen during passage along the conveyor support frame (10). With the view to achieving a maximum speed of the flow of freezing air in relation tot he average speed of the air flow across the items, and compact construction while still providing easy access for maintenance and cleaning, there is disclosed an embodiment comprising at least two conveyor support frames (10) placed at the side of each other, and where the frames (10) in all comprise at least one freezing aggregate (24) and at least one fan or blower (26) for driving the flow of freezing air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holding & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Henrik Rasmussen, Morten Kudsk
  • Publication number: 20040020749
    Abstract: An improved method of transporting materials or products for chilling or freezing comprising the use of a multi-tiered, spiral path conveyor belt capable of tight radial turning in a restricted area to immerse the materials or products into a tank containing a cooling fluid and circulating the cooling fluid past the material or product is presented. The materials or products may or may not undergo chemical preparation prior to immersion, depending on the type of materials or products to be chilled or frozen. The cooling fluid, which can be food-grade solute, is circulated past the material at a substantially constant predetermined velocity and temperature to freeze the material or product. The cooling fluid is preferably between −20 degrees centigrade and −30 degrees centigrade, and the velocity of the cooling fluid past the material is about 35 liters per minute per foot of cooling fluid through an area not greater than about 24 inches wide and 48 inches deep.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Wood, Robin Roselli, Chris Wilson
  • Patent number: 6675589
    Abstract: A freeze-crusting process and a vertical freezing apparatus preferred for use in the inventive freeze-crusting process. The freeze-crusting process preferably comprises the steps of (a) continuously delivering food products through the freezing apparatus and (b) exposing the food products to cold circulating air within the freezing apparatus in a manner effective for freezing an outermost layer of the food product. The inventive crusting process is particularly well-suited for preparing food logs and other products for slicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: David Howard
  • Patent number: 6672098
    Abstract: A chiller comprises a vessel for coolant and an endless conveyor having transverse flights. The conveyor passes in a loop from one side to another of the vessel. An arrangement is provided to alter the path of the conveyor so as to shorten and lengthen the loop. In use, when the loop is lengthened articles are tumbled in the coolant by the flights, and when the loop is shortened articles are conveyed out of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: D C Norris & Co. (Engineering) Limited
    Inventor: David A. Norris
  • Patent number: 6668578
    Abstract: For bartending, in order to avoid batch chilling of beer glasses and the like in which the last glasses put into a refrigerator are the first pulled out and are thus not properly chilled, a last in, last out glass chilling system provides a supply of properly chilled beer glasses even when newly washed warm glasses are to be chilled. In one embodiment, the last in, last out glass chilling system includes a series of trays on a conveyor in the cabinet, with each tray loaded with glasses. The conveyor moves the trays upwardly in the chill cabinet, with the chilling occurring during the time that the tray of glasses moves from a bottom position to a top position. This assures that, unlike batch chilling, properly chilled glasses are always available. In one embodiment, a tray of glasses is in inserted at the base of the chill cabinet, with the conveyor being motorized to move the trays within the chill cabinet in an upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: David Coakley
  • Patent number: 6668582
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cooling an object using a heat transfer fluid are presented. One of the methods comprises the steps of contacting the object with a heat transfer fluid comprising helium as a major component, the object traversing through a heat exchange unit having an object inlet end and an object outlet end; preventing ingress of contaminants into the heat exchange unit inlet end and outlet end using a seal gas, the seal gas exiting with the heat transfer fluid to form an exit gas; compressing the exit gas to form a compressed recycle gas; routing the compressed recycle gas to a gas-liquid separator, thus forming a helium enriched gas which function as the heat transfer fluid and an enriched liquid; and heating the enriched liquid to form the seal gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: American Air Liquide
    Inventor: Joseph E. Paganessi
  • Patent number: 6658864
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a cryogen for cooling articles, particularly having applications for chilling extrusions, food, and similar articles, utilizing dispersion of liquid cryogen into a feed chamber wherein it is substantially vaporized and then circulated through a cooling chamber containing the article to be cooled. A circulation device can circulate the vaporized cryogen through the cooling chamber, or through the article, at a variably controllable velocity to enhance the cooling efficiency using the principle of forced air convection and to provide improved temperature control in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Thomas, Lonnie Randolph, Greg Brandt, Chris Gieseking, Dave Winship
  • Patent number: 6655157
    Abstract: A wet package precooler is operated inside a flower cooler room and includes a closed cabinet with a slotted opening in the top into which the flower packages slide. A conveyor on which the packages ride is provided inside the cabinet, a motor/blower assembly provides cooling air flow. By incorporating vertical cooling air flow, the machine cools the packaged flowers as they slide through the slot. The machine directs the cooling air into the top of the package, down through the flowers, and exhausts the air through hand holes and vents in the water container part of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: The Rainbow Cooler Box Company
    Inventor: Michael H. McKiernan
  • Patent number: 6640576
    Abstract: The present invention provides food coolers the cooling, in particular deep freezing, of foods produced as moldings (3) comprising a refrigerating space (1) and a conveyor belt (2) for conveying the foods (3) through this refrigerating space (1). The conveyor belt (2) is assigned holding devices (6) for the defined positioning of the moldings (3) on the conveyor belt (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: AGA Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Rudolf Erwin Berghoff, Ulf Christian Pöpleu