Cryogenic tunnel freezer
US5444985A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 29, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D3/11
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A tunnel freezer uses carbon dioxide snow to directly contact product carried on a conveyor belt passing through the freezer. Fans are provided above and below the upper conveyor belt run carrying the product, with the fans above and below having downwardly directed exhaust. Trough-shaped deflector plates are provided adjacent the lower fans to circulate a flow adjacent the underneath surface of the upper conveyor belt run. Preferably, circulation adjacent the upper conveyor belt run is generally parallel to the upper conveyor belt run, and turning vanes are provided to deflect the flow upwardly through the upper conveyor belt run. Freezers may be provided with one or more cooling zones arranged in series along the path of conveyor belt travel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.