Process and apparatus for molding ice confectionery with separable mold parts

Apparatus for preparing frozen confectionery articles comprising:

• a conveyor which comprises first and second endless parts which comprise parallel chains and which are linearly aligned for transporting members for molding an ice confectionery product and so that the members are transported from the first conveyor part to the second conveyor part;
• a plurality of members for preparing molded articles wherein each members is a set which comprises two bar members and two parts for forming a mold member wherein a first mold part is integral with a first bar member and a second mold part is integral with a second bar member, wherein each bar member extends transversely to the parallel chains for transport of the bar members, wherein each mold part has a surface configured to define a cavity and wherein the bar member and mold part sets are configured and positioned so that the first and second bar members are contactable and so that the first and second mold parts and their cavities are fittable together for forming a mold member which defines a cavity for receiving and containing a product for being molded into an article;
• means integral with the first conveyor part for driving the first bar member of the sets so that the first bar member contacts and pushes the second bar member and so that the first and second mold parts and their cavities fit together to form the mold members;
• means integral with the second conveyor part for transporting the bar member and mold part sets so that the second bar member is driven and the first bar member is transported so that the second mold part of the mold member is parted away from the first mold part of the mold member for separating the two bar members and mold parts one from the other and from frozen molded product so that a frozen product article formed by the freezing may be transported away from the mold parts;
• a heat-insulated compartment which contains therein the conveyor, the bar member and mold sets sets and the means for driving the bar members for fitting and separating the mold parts;
• means which extend into the compartment for introducing a substance for preparing an ice confectionery article into molds in the compartment;
• means for introducing a cryogenic gas into the compartment for contacting molds containing a substance for freezing for preparing ice confectionery articles;
• means for inserting a stick in a substance being frozen in mold members in the compartment;
• means for grasping the sticks of frozen articles in the compartment for removing frozen articles away from separated mold parts;
• and
• means for removing the frozen articles from the compartment.