# US 5,348,753 A · Food processing apparatus and method

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- Number: US 5,348,753 A
- Document ID: US5348753A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/047,186
- Filed: 1993-04-16
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1990-10-16
- Assignees: Besst Frozen Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Edward E. Ahnell; Ernest W. Curry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348753A

## CPC

- A23G 9/20: the products being mixed with gas, e.g. soft-ice
- A23G 9/281: {at the discharge end of freezing chambers}
- A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A food processing apparatus comprises a heat exchanger with a food path for connecting a source of food substance to the heat exchanger and a pump located in the food path for conveying food substance from the source to the heat exchanger. A pressure sensor is provided for sensing pressure downstream of the pump and for transmitting a pressure signal corresponding to a measured pressure downstream of the pump. A controller connected between the pump and the pressure sensor controls the pump in response to the pressure signal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A food processing apparatus comprising:
a heat exchanger;
a food path connecting a source of food substance to the heat exchanger;
a pump operatively connected to the food path for moving food substance from the source to the heat exchanger;
a pressure sensor operatively connected to at least one of the food path and the exchanger, for transmitting a pressure signal corresponding to a system pressure; and
a controller connected to the pump and to the pressure sensor for controlling the pump in response to the pressure signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is a non-invasive type device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 further including a gas injector for introducing gas into the food substance, the gas injector being activatable in response to a signal from the controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the controller transmits an activation signal to the gas injector in response to a predetermined pressure signal from the pressure sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the controller sends signals to simultaneously activate both the pump an the gas injector in response to a predetermined pressure signal from the pressure sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger includes an auger for simultaneously propelling food substance in a first direction toward an outlet end thereof and in a second direction toward an inlet end thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the auger includes a plurality of fins.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pump is a gear pump.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor includes a gauge guard.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the control is adjustable to activate the pump in response to a user selected pressure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 further including a food substance temperature sensor, said temperature sensor being located in said heat exchanger and for transmitting a temperature signal to the controller.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the controller includes a program which can be altered by a user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 further including a display connected to the controller for indicating status information to a user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the display includes a video screen.

### Claim 15 (depends on 3)

An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the gas injector includes a sparger.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 further including a sensor for detecting whether the food path is connected to a food source and for transmitting a disconnect signal to the controller for deactivating the pump.

### Claim 17

A method for processing food substance in a system using a heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of:
supplying a food substance to the heat exchanger;
detecting a system pressure;
controlling the step of supplying in accordance with the detected system pressure; and
processing the food substance in the heat exchanger.