Food freezing apparatus
AssigneeFrigoscandia Food Process Systems AB
InventorRichard J. Dibbs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for freezing of food products comprises an insulated housing, an endless, foraminous conveyor belt following a helical path for forming a belt pile having several tiers in the housing, and helical rail means for supporting the conveyor belt at one side thereof along the helical path. Cooled air is circulated through the belt pile. Nozzles for ejecting cooled, pressurized air are positioned between the tiers of the belt pile, such that a plurality of air jets are ejected from the nozzles for impinging upon both a top side and a bottom side of food products carried by the conveyor belt past the nozzles.
Claims6
An apparatus for freezing of food products, comprising:
- an insulated housing;
- an endless, foraminous conveyor belt following a helical path for forming a belt pile having several tiers in said housing;
- helical rail means for supporting the conveyor belt at one side thereof along the helical path;
- cooling means;
- air flow means for circulating an air flow through said cooling means and said belt pile in series;
- duct means positioned between the tiers of said belt pile and extending from a beginning of said helical path along at least a part of said helical path, said duct means having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls, said top wall and said bottom wall having a plurality of nozzles therein;
- a chamber connected to said duct means along that side of the belt pile where said helical rail means supports the conveyor belt and having an opening towards said cooling means for receiving cooled air therefrom;
- and
- impeller means for drawing the cooled air into said chamber and increasing the air pressure in said chamber and in said duct means such that a plurality of air jets are ejected from said plurality of nozzles in said duct means for impinging upon both a top side and a bottom side of food products carried by the conveyor belt past said duct means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.