Preparing and Storing a Free Flowing Frozen Supplementary Product

Abstract

A method of preparing and storing a free-flowing frozen supplementary product, including preparing a supplementary composition for freezing, dripping the supplementary composition into a freezing chamber, freezing the dripped supplementary composition into beads, and transporting the frozen beads by conveyor belt out of the freezing chamber.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for manufacturing cryogenically frozen supplementary beads, comprising:
 an elongated housing comprising an intake end and a discharge end comprising a chute, the elongated housing forming a channel for the delivery of a frozen bead from the intake end to the chute,   wherein the intake end of the elongated housing comprises an intake configured to extend to a bottom of a cryogenic chamber when the apparatus is positioned to receive a frozen bead from the cryogenic chamber;   a conveyor belt disposed within the channel of the elongated housing from the intake end to the discharge end; and   a drive motor assembly in rotary communication with the conveyor belt, the drive motor assembly configured to rotate the conveyor belt toward the discharge end.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an openable cleaning drain line disposed proximate the intake end of the elongated housing.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the conveyor belt comprises rod gaps through the conveyor belt. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein each respective rod gap is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the frozen bead comprising a predetermined size. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein each rod gap is sized and shaped for the predetermined size comprising a diameter of about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein each rod gap is sized and shaped for the predetermined size comprising a diameter of about 2.0 mm to about 4.0 mm. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the conveyor belt further comprises one or more cleats extending orthogonally from an outer surface of the conveyor belt. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a retaining wall spaced from an edge of an outer surface of the conveyor belt at a diameter of a predetermined size.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the conveyor belt comprises a clean-in-place configuration, the clean-in-place configuration comprising:
 the conveyor belt looped around and frictionally engaged with at least one sanitary roller,   wherein the elongated housing comprises a receiver configured to receive water into the elongated housing and a drain line configured to control the release of water from the elongated housing.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the receiver is positioned proximate the output end of the elongated housing and the drain line is positioned proximate a lowest portion of the intake end of the elongated housing. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the conveyor belt is disposed at a conveying angle relative to a plane that is perpendicular to a cross-sectional plane of the intake. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the conveying angle is acute relative to the plane. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the conveying angle is approximately 55 degrees to approximately 60 degrees relative to the plane. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the conveying angle is approximately 45 degrees to 50 degrees relative to the plane.