Automatic recovery system for frozen product machines
US8196423B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C5/10
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A recovery system for a frozen product dispenser accommodates automatic recovery and continued operation of the dispenser in response to the output torque of a beater bar and scraper assembly drive motor exceeding a selected upper limit due to transient conditions. A controller monitors the output torque of the drive motor and, upon sensing an output torque in excess of the selected upper limit, shuts off the drive motor and operates a refrigeration system to defrost a freeze barrel within which the beater bar and scraper assembly is rotated, for a time sufficient to defrost product in the barrel. The controller then turns on the drive motor, operates the refrigeration system to refreeze product in the barrel and continues to monitor the output torque of the drive motor. The foregoing operation is repeated several times, if and as necessary, before a system error is generated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.