Apparatus for molding frozen confectionery compositions into articles
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorsPhilip Igor Cathenaut, Bruno Delande
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The device for moulding frozen confectionery articles comprises a metering hopper connected to a volumetric metering device comprising a metering chamber and a metering element dispensing a predetermined volume of ice cream into passing containers by means of a metering nozzle. As the hopper is pressurized, the metering chamber is filled without the formation of air pockets in the aspiration phase, which makes it possible to manufacture moulded articles of hard ice cream.
Claims25
Device for moulding frozen confectionery articles by filling containers passing through a solidifying environment with a predetermined volume of composition, the said device comprising:
- a distribution hopper containing the composition;
- means for metering the composition which are linked to the hopper, comprising a metering chamber, a metering element, a metering nozzle and a valve communicating either with the hopper and the metering chamber during the aspiration phase or with the metering chamber and the metering nozzle during the filling phase;
- characterized in that the hopper is sealed and non-deformable and in that the device comprises means for maintaining a pressure over the composition during the aspiration phase so as entirely to fill the metering chamber.
Apparatus for preparing frozen ice confectionery articles comprising:
- a pipe for transporting a frozen ice confectionery composition;
- a pipe for conveying a gas compressed to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
- a hopper and lid assembly which is configured for receiving and, in operation, connected to the ice confectionery transport pipe and the compressed air pipe for receiving therein a supply of a frozen ice confectionery composition and compressed gas under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and which is configured for passing frozen ice confectionery composition contained therein therefrom and which is sealable gas-tight so that, in operation, ice confectionery contained therein and passed therefrom is maintained under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
- a further pipe connected with the hopper for passing frozen ice confectionery composition from the hopper and lid assembly under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
- a valve connected to the further pipe and a metering device connected to the valve wherein the metering device is configured to define a chamber and comprises a metering element for providing frozen ice confectionery composition into the chamber and for discharging frozen ice confectionery composition introduced into the chamber from the chamber and wherein the valve is configured and positioned for alternately introducing frozen ice confectionery composition from the further pipe into the chamber and discharging frozen ice confectionery composition from the chamber while maintaining the frozen ice confectionery under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
- and
- a nozzle connected with the valve and adapted for receiving metered frozen ice confectionery composition under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure that is discharged from the metering device chamber via the valve for dispensing frozen ice confectionery composition under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure into a container.
A device for molding frozen confectionery articles by filling containers passing through a solidifying environment with a predetermined volume of composition, the device comprising:
- a distribution hopper containing the composition;
- means for metering the composition which are linked to the hopper, comprising a metering chamber, a metering element, a metering nozzle, and a valve communicating either with the hopper and the metering chamber during the aspiration phase or with the metering chamber and the metering nozzle during the filling phase;
- wherein characterized the hopper is sealed and non-deformable and the device comprises means for maintaining a pressure over the composition during the aspiration phase so as to entirely fill the metering chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.