초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for producing frozen product characterized by flowing liquid substantially uniformly over a substantially vertically oriented freezing mold; supplying liquid refrigerant to a conductive surface in the freezing mold for freezing the liquid into predetermined shapes; collecting th

Method and apparatus for producing frozen product characterized by flowing liquid substantially uniformly over a substantially vertically oriented freezing mold; supplying liquid refrigerant to a conductive surface in the freezing mold for freezing the liquid into predetermined shapes; collecting the excess liquid into a reservoir and circulating the excess liquid back over the top of the freezing mold, the liquid being at its freezing point; stopping the circulation of the liquid over the freezing mold and initiating a dump mode in which the freezing mold is heated and tilted to dump the frozen product into a receiving bin; detecting when the receiving bin has sufficient frozen product therein and stopping the production of more frozen product until some has been used; repeating the cycle orienting the freezing mold substantially vertically and starting the refrigeration equipment to freeze the product and repeat the cycle. The preferred embodiment include controls responsive to sensory inputs, deflection plate for deflecting the frozen product into the bin, inclined trough drain to stationary reservoir, insert for freezing easily broken tails between cubes and a special bin.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for making a frozen product having a predetermined shape by freezing the liquid product, comprising: a. a freezing mold pivotally and eccentrically mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis within a central one-half region of the longitudinal dimensions of said freezing mold and adap

Apparatus for making a frozen product having a predetermined shape by freezing the liquid product, comprising: a. a freezing mold pivotally and eccentrically mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis within a central one-half region of the longitudinal dimensions of said freezing mold and adapted to be positioned in a substantially vertical position in a freezing mode for freezing and to be inclined in a dump mode so as to dump the resulting frozen product; said mold having a plurality of respective cells arranged in a predetermined array and defining boundaries of a space of said predetermined shape of the frozen product; b. evaporator tubes secured to a wall of the freezing mold; c. refrigeration means for supplying liquid refrigerant to said evaporator tubes, flexible refrigerant conduits connecting said evaporator tubes and said refrigeration means such that said freezing mold can be pivoted about said pivot axis for dumping; said refrigeration means being adapted to circulate a refrigerant that cools or warms through change of state; d. a liquid dispensing means disposed above said freezing mold in its freezing mode so as to direct said liquid substantially uniformly and continuously onto the upper said cells for freezing, said liquid flowing downwardly over said cells for freezing into said frozen product; e. a reservoir for collecting excess liquid flowing over said freezing mold; f. drain means for directing said excess liquid from said freezing mold to said reservoir; g. liquid circuit and pump means connected with said reservoir so as to take suction therefrom and connected with said liquid dispensing means so as to circulate said liquid at substantially its freezing point; h. make up means for making up liquid to said reservoir; i. a liquid level control means for controlling the liquid level in said reservoir; j. control means for determining when said apparatus is to be in said freezing mode and when it is to be in said dump mode and not in said freezing mode; and k. means for pivoting said freezing mold into its inclined position for dumping with said eccentric mounting for gravity return and wherein there is provided a receiving bin for receiving said frozen product when it is dumped wherein a “full”signal means if provided for signalling when said bin is full and preventing reentry into said freezing mode when said receiving bin has sufficient frozen product therein; said full signal means being defined by a protruding safety guide member that encounters said frozen product when there is adequate frozen product in said bin.