Relating to cooling

Abstract

A cooling apparatus includes a cavity for receipt of a product to be cooled. A rotation device rotates a product received in the cavity and a coolant supply provides a coolant to the cavity. The rotation device is adapted to rotate the product about two parallel non-coincident axes.

1 . A cooling apparatus comprising a cavity for receipt of a product to be cooled;
 rotation means to rotate a product received in the cavity and coolant supply means to provide a coolant to the cavity; wherein the apparatus further comprises means to apply a supplementary motion to the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein supplementary motion is a linear motion. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the linear motion is a reciprocating motion. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the reciprocating motion is at a rate of at least 50 oscillations per minute; more preferably at least 80 oscillations per minute; even more preferably at least 100 oscillations per minute. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the reciprocating motion is at a rate of about 120 oscillations per minute. 
     
     
         6 . A cooling apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rotation means is adapted to rotate the product about two parallel non-coincident axes. 
     
     
         7 . A cooling apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein one of the axes is an axis of the product. 
     
     
         8 . A cooling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rotation means is adapted to rotate the product at a rotational speed of 90 revolutions per minute or more, more preferably at least about 180 revolutions per minute, even more preferably at least about 360 revolutions per minute. 
     
     
         9 . A cooling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the coolant is a cooling fluid and the cooling fluid supply means is adapted to provide a flow of cooling fluid to the cavity. 
     
     
         10 . A cooling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cooling fluid is supplied to the cavity at a temperature of −10° C. or less, more preferably −14° C. or less, even more preferably −16° C. or less. 
     
     
         11 . A cooling apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rotation means is adapted to provide a pulsed or non-continuous rotation for a predetermined period. 
     
     
         12 . A vending apparatus comprising a cooling apparatus as claimed in any one of the  claims 1  to  11  and further comprising insertion and removal means for inserting the product to be cooled into the cavity and removing the cooled product therefrom. 
     
     
         13 . A vending apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising storage means for storing a product or range of products and selection means for selecting a product from the storage means for insertion into the cavity.