# US 11,026,440 B2 · Temperature treatment apparatus and method for solidifying portions of fluid

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- Number: US 11,026,440 B2
- Document ID: US11026440B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/318,653
- Filed: 2015-06-12
- Published: 2017-05-11
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-06-13
- Assignees: John Bean Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: John Bean Technologies AB
- Inventors: Mathias Folkesson; Stefan Paulsson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026440B2

## CPC

- A23B 2/80: Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
- A23P 30/10: Moulding
- F25D 3/11: with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
- F25D 13/067: {with circulation of gaseous cooling fluid}
- F25D 25/04: by conveyors (in general B65G)
- A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
- A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
- A23P: SHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a temperature treatment apparatus (1) for solidifying portions of fluid. The apparatus comprises an endless product conveyor belt (7) comprising a plurality of moulds (8) made of elastic material, each of the plurality of moulds having an open end and each of the plurality of moulds being arranged to convey a portion of fluid during solidifying of the same, a first impingement temperature treatment device (4) arranged in a first temperature treatment zone (A), a second impingement temperature treatment device (5) arranged in a second temperature treatment zone (B), wherein the first temperature treatment zone is arranged upstream the second temperature treatment zone with regard to a direction of movement of the portions of fluid during use of the apparatus, wherein the first temperature treatment zone is arranged to solidify a crust on the portions of fluid at least on a surface of the fluid closest to the open end of the moulds when the moulds comprising portions of fluid are conveyed through the first temperature treatment zone, and wherein the second temperature treatment zone is arranged to further solidify each portion of foodstuffs such that at least partly solidified portions are formed when the moulds comprising portions of fluid are conveyed through the second temperature treatment zone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A temperature treatment apparatus for solidifying portions of fluid, the apparatus comprising:
an endless product conveyor belt comprising a plurality of moulds built into the conveyor belt made of elastic material which defines unitary mould structures having a closed bottom, each of the plurality of moulds defining a cavity having an open upper end and each of the plurality of moulds being arranged to convey a portion of fluid during solidifying of the same,
first impingement jets in a first temperature treatment zone applying non-cryogenic impinging fluid to the moulds in a first temperature treatment effect,
second impingement jets in a second temperature treatment zone applying non-cryogenic impinging fluid to the moulds in a second temperature treatment effect,
wherein the first impingement jets are arranged upstream the second impingement jets with regard to a direction of movement of the portions of fluid during use of the apparatus,
wherein the treatment effect of the first temperature treatment zone is lower than the treatment effect of the second temperature treatment zone;
wherein the first temperature treatment zone is arranged to solidify a crust on the portions of fluid at least on a surface of the fluid closest to the open end of the moulds when the moulds comprising portions of fluid are conveyed through the first temperature treatment zone, and
wherein the second temperature treatment zone is arranged to further solidify the portions of fluid such that at least partly solidified portions are formed when the moulds comprising portions of fluid are conveyed through the second temperature treatment zone.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endless product conveyor belt is arranged to continuously transport the plurality of moulds conveying the portions of fluid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1:
wherein a crust is formed by freezing the fluid and
wherein the portions of fluid that are at least partly solidified are frozen such that frozen portions are formed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft arranged to drive the endless product conveyor belt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a dispensing device arranged to dispense the portions of fluid in the plurality of moulds.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second impingement jets are arranged to further solidify the portions of fluid such that a major part of each portion of fluid is solidified.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second impingement jets are arranged to apply the impingement jets impinging fluid from above the endless product conveyor in the first and second temperature treatment zones.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises third impingement jets to apply non-cryogenic impingement fluid from below the moulds.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft about which the endless product conveyor belt is arranged to travel and wherein the shaft is arranged to bear against the bottom of the moulds to sufficiently flex the moulds for ejecting the at least partially solidified portions from the plurality of moulds.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of moulds is arranged to deform when contacted by the shaft, to cause the at least partially solidified portions to be ejected from the plurality of moulds.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing accommodating at least a part of the endless product conveyor belt and the impingement temperature treatment devices.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11:
further comprising an additional conveyor belt, wherein the additional conveyor belt at least in part is arranged in the housing, and
wherein the additional conveyor belt is arranged to receive at least partly solidified portions ejected from the moulds, and to convey the at least partly solidified portions in a direction opposite the direction of the endless product conveyor belt.

### Claim 13

A method for solidifying portions of fluid, the method comprising:
dispensing fluid in elastic, deformable moulds built into the structure of an endless product conveyor belt defining a cavity with an open top and enclosed bottom for receiving portions of fluid and for forming portions of the received fluid;
subjecting the dispensed portions of fluid for non-cryogenic impingement temperature treatment in a first temperature treatment zone during conveying of the endless product conveyor belt such that a crust on the top portions of fluid at least on a surface of the fluid closest to the open top of the moulds is formed;
subjecting the fluid for non-cryogenic impingement temperature treatment in a second temperature treatment zone during conveying of the endless product conveyor belt such that at least partially solidified portions are formed,
wherein the first temperature treatment zone is arranged upstream of the second temperature treatment zone with regard to a direction of movement of the portions of fluid;
applying the non-cryogenic treatment effect of the first temperature treatment zone at a lower than the non-cryogenic treatment effect in the second temperature treatment zone; and
deforming the elastic moulds sufficiently with a shaft acting on the endless product conveyor belt to cause the at least partially solidified portions to be ejected from the elastic, deformable moulds.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein subjecting the fluid for impingement temperature treatment comprises applying non-cryogenic impingement fluid from above the endless product conveyor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein elastic moulds are deformed by a shaft around which the endless product conveyor travels, the shaft having portions bearing against the bottom of the moulds.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein the second temperature treatment zone is arranged to further solidify the fluid such that a major portion of the fluid is solidified.