Apparatus and process for more rapidly cooling products contained in pouched or flexible containers
OwnerAndrew E. Briesmeisterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat transfer array is presented which includes one or more pouch flexors that press down on a fluid product containing pouch and facilitate heat exchange by mixing the pouch contents while the exterior of the pouch is contacted by a heat exchange medium. The pouch flexors are arranged in an array of three wheels, and the pouches are subjected to a number of wheel arrays in order to exchange heat from the pouch contents. The pouch flexors are stationary and a conveyor belt moves the pouch product under the wheel arrays.
Claims20
A device for accelerating heat transfer in a product contained in a flexible container or pouch, comprising:
- a pouch flexor, for physically distorting said pouch, and thereby moving and mixing said product, while maintaining the orientation of said pouch;
- a heat transfer medium, for contact with said pouch and for transferring heat to or from said product within said pouch:
- wherein said pouch flexor is configured for distorting and thereby mixing said pouch contents, and in so doing exposes a fresh layer of product to contact with said pouch, for exposure of said fresh layer of product to said heat transfer medium, for enhanced heat exchange with said product.
A device for accelerating heat transfer in a product contained in a flexible container or pouch, comprising:
- a pouch flexor comprised of one or more wheels or rollers mounted in a stationary position, for physically distorting said pouch as it moves past said wheels or rollers, and thereby moving and mixing said product, while maintaining the orientation of said pouch;
- at least one pouch conveyer for moving said pouch through said device and past said one or more wheels or rollers;
- a water based heat transfer medium, for contact with said pouch and for transferring heat to or from said product within said pouch:
- at least one spray nozzle for spraying said heat transfer liquid against said pouch;
- wherein said pouch flexor is configured for distorting and thereby mixing said pouch contents, and in so doing exposes a fresh layer of product to contact with said pouch, for exposure of said fresh layer of product to said heat transfer medium, for enhanced heat exchange with said product.
A device for accelerating heat transfer in a product contained in a flexible container or pouch, comprising:
- one or more pouch flexor assemblies comprised of one or more arrays of wheels or rollers mounted in a stationary position, for physically distorting pouches as said pouches move past said wheels or rollers, and thereby moving and mixing said product, while maintaining the orientation of said pouch;
- at least one pouch conveyer for moving said pouch through said arrays of wheels or rollers and past said one or more wheels or rollers;
- a water based heat transfer medium, for contact with said pouch and for transferring heat to or from said product within said pouch:
- at least one spray nozzle for spraying said heat transfer liquid against said pouch;
- wherein said pouch flexor assemblies are configured for distorting and thereby mixing said pouch contents, and in so doing exposes a fresh layer of product to contact with said pouch, for indirect exposure of said fresh layer of product to said heat transfer medium, for enhanced heat exchange with said product.
A method for accelerating heat transfer in a product contained in a flexible container or pouch, comprising the steps of:
- providing a conveyor belt for conveying a plurality of said flexible pouches;
- providing a plurality of pouch flexor assemblies comprised of one or more arrays of wheels or rollers mounted in a stationary position, for physically distorting pouches as said pouches move past said wheels or rollers, and thereby moving and mixing said product, while maintaining the orientation of said pouch;
- contacting said pouches with a water based heat transfer medium, to increase heat transfer to or from said product within said pouch:
- wherein said pouch flexor assemblies are configured for distorting and thereby mixing said pouch contents, and in so doing exposes a fresh layer of product to contact with said pouch, for exposure of said fresh layer of product to indirect contact with said heat transfer medium, for enhanced heat exchange with said product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.