Impingement Freezer

Abstract

The present invention relates to an impingement freezer ( 1 ) comprising an outer housing ( 2 ) having side walls ( 3 ), ceiling ( 4 ) and floor ( 5 ), where the outer housing ( 2 ) comprises gas condition means ( 6 ), preferably for cooling gas and encloses a high-pressure chamber ( 7 ) formed by one or more ventilators ( 8 ) for circulating the gas, side panels ( 9 ) and a perforated plate ( 10 ), where the high-pressure chamber ( 7 ) is positioned so that the perforated plate ( 10 ) is facing a conveyor belt ( 11 ) for transporting products allowing the gas to be impinged through the perforated plate ( 10 ) onto the conveyor belt ( 11 ), which is arranged in a zone ( 19 ) between the perforated plate ( 10 ) and a plate member ( 12 ), and where the side walls ( 3 ) and the side panels ( 9 ) provides a return access channel ( 18 ) for the circulated gas, and the zone ( 19 ) is provided with at least one open side ( 20 ), which is open towards the return access channel ( 18 ).

1 . Impingement freezer ( 1 ) comprising an outer housing ( 2 ) having side walls ( 3 ), ceiling ( 4 ) and floor ( 5 ), where the outer housing ( 2 ) comprises gas condition means ( 6 ), preferably for cooling gas, and encloses a high-pressure chamber ( 7 ) formed by one or more ventilators ( 8 ) for circulating the gas, side panels ( 9 ) and a perforated plate ( 10 ), where the high-pressure chamber ( 7 ) is positioned so that the perforated plate ( 10 ) is facing a conveyor belt ( 11 ) for transporting products allowing the gas to be impinged through the perforated plate ( 10 ) onto the conveyor belt ( 11 ), which is arranged in a zone ( 19 ) between the perforated plate ( 10 ) and a plate member ( 12 ), and where the side walls ( 3 ) and the side panels ( 9 ) provide a return access channel ( 18 ) for the circulated gas, and that the zone ( 19 ) is provided with at least one open side ( 20 ), which is open towards the return access channel ( 18 ). 
   
   
       2 . Impingement freezer ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the high-pressure chamber ( 7 ) is positioned above the conveyor belt ( 11 ), and the plate member ( 12 ) is part of a bottom construction ( 13 ) positioned below the conveyor belt ( 11 ), and where there is access ( 21 ) for the gas from the high-pressure chamber ( 7 ) to the bottom construction ( 13 ). 
   
   
       3 . Impingement freezer ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate member ( 12 ) is provided with perforated channels ( 14 ) and non-perforated channels ( 15 ), which are arranged preferably perpendicular to the travelling direction of the conveyor belt ( 11 ), and where the perforated channels ( 14 ) have at least one access ( 21 ) for the gas from the high-pressure chamber ( 7 ). 
   
   
       4 . Impingement freezer ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate member ( 12 ) is replaceable, and the non-perforated channels ( 15 ) constitute between 20-70% of the plate member ( 129 . 
   
   
       5 . Impingement freezer ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the perforated channels ( 14 ) are formed with at least one inclined bottom part ( 22 ). 
   
   
       6 . Impingement freezer ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the high-pressure chamber ( 7 ) extends above a number of the conveyer belts ( 11 ) and where the access ( 21 ) for the gas from the high-pressure chamber ( 7 ) to the bottom construction ( 13 ) is arranged between the conveyer belts ( 11 ). 
   
   
       7 . Impingement freezer ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the high-pressure chamber ( 7 ) is provided with side panels, which can be opened wholly or partly ( 9 ). 
   
   
       8 . Impingement freezer ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the perforated plate ( 10 ) is pivotally hinged. 
   
   
       9 . Impingement freezer ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing ( 2 ) is provided with side walls ( 3 ), which can be opened wholly or partly.