Patent · US Expired

Control system for cryogenic processor for liquid feed preparation of free-flowing frozen product

US6494049B1 · kind B1 · utility

17Cited by
31References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 4, 2001
Grant dateDec 17, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 26, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25C1/00
  • WIPO fieldFood chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A cryogenic processor is provided for liquid feed preparation of a free-flowing frozen product comprising. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the cryogenic processor includes a freezing chamber having a substantially conical shape, at least one feed tray overlying the freezing chamber arranged and adapted to receive liquid composition from a delivery source, the tray having a plurality of orifices for the discharge of uniformly sized droplets of the composition from the feed tray, whereby the droplets are delivered by gravity into the freezing chamber there-below. The cryogenic processor also includes at least one sensor associated with the feed tray for determining a depth of liquid composition in the feed tray, at least one valve associated with a liquid composition delivery line, the valve being configured to control the rate at which liquid composition is delivered from the delivery source to the feed tray, and a controller responsive to the at least one sensor for controlling a position of the valve, and therefore the rate at which liquid composition is delivered from the delivery source to the feed tray.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.