ES2598903B1 - PROCEDURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE AND EQUIPMENT TO CARRY OUT - Google Patents

Abstract

Procedure for the manufacture of ice and equipment for carrying it out. # The object of the invention is a process for the manufacture of continuous ice characterized in that it comprises: (a) preparing a mixture of drinking water and at least one food additive, being the drinking water subjected to a pasteurization process before or after the addition of the food additive; (b) cooling the mixture obtained in the previous stage, then being introduced into at least one mold by means of a dosing process; (c) said mold is then led into a freezing tunnel, where the mixture is cooled to freezing in the form of ice; (d) finally, the ice obtained in the freezing tunnel is extracted from the mold. The equipment for carrying out said process is also object of the invention.

Description

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PROCEDURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE AND EQUIPMENT TO TAKE IT TO

CAPE

DESCRIPTION

Technical field

The present invention relates to a manufacturing process of high quality ice, standard or customized in terms of its physical-chemical and organoleptic properties. It is therefore a completely versatile process, which allows the industrial manufacture of ice with a variety of shapes, sizes, smells, colors and / or flavors. The present invention also relates to the equipment for carrying out said process, as well as to the ice manufactured therefrom.

Background of the invention

Ice cubes, despite their popularity as a method to cool drinks, have the disadvantage of diluting the drink when dissolved, which can cause unwanted changes in taste. A solution to this problem is the use of ice cubes with pleasant flavors and suitable for the beverage in which they are to be used. The different flavors of the ice cube can be achieved by adding additives such as coffee, infusions, sauces, condiments, fruit juices, etc., to the water during the preparation of the cube.

Additionally, it is also possible to add coloring and / or flavoring additives to the ice cubes, so that when melted in a drink they confer interesting colors and / or odors that are surprising. Ice cubes of this type have the positive effect of attracting attention and increasing the attractiveness of a drink, so it is easy to imagine its use as advertising support if they are also made in custom shapes that can include the logo of a company.

Despite the wide demand for ice cubes, the most common industrial processes for their production do not pay special attention to the quality of the water with which the cube is prepared. Frequently, the devices used in these procedures include water recirculation systems from molten water collection tanks during the preparation process of the bucket. In many cases, these deposits are not subject to controls that guarantee the quality of the reused water.

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In the case of cubes with additives, there is an additional risk that these additives may suffer contamination that pose a health risk, particularly in the case of additives based on dairy products or juices rich in sugars.

Asl, EP 2258993 B1 (validated in Spain as ES 2392009 T3) discloses an apparatus for the preparation of colored ice cubes. The apparatus comprises heating means that allow the water to be heated to a preferred temperature of at least 90 ° C to achieve greater cleaning and disinfection. The apparatus may comprise a water filter for an additional purification of the water that is supplied to the system. This document also discloses a method for the production of ice cubes of two or more colors, as well as for its manufacture in different forms, with images or inscriptions, such as logos.

ES 2193883 B1 discloses flavored-flavored ice cubes comprising water and flavor and aroma agents in a proportion comprised between 0.01% and 20% by weight with respect to the body of water. The flavor and aroma agents may be dissolved in the mass of the ice cubes, or incorporated into them as discrete bodies (for example, gelatin capsules).

US 9066529 B2 discloses a computer-controlled dynamic method for the manufacture of colored ice cubes with flavors from beverages of certain flavors. In a particular example, ice cubes are produced with the flavor and color of coffee.

US 6513337 B1 discloses a system for producing water of different colors, as well as ice cubes in various shapes and colors, where said system has a control unit with buttons on a front panel that allow a user to choose a color. In this system the ice trays can be disassembled and exchanged for others with different shapes.

It is therefore evident the need to offer alternative systems of continuous industrial production of ice cubes of high quality, standard and customized with varied colors, smells and flavors and various forms, which may include inscriptions such as a logo.

General description of the invention

It is a first object of the present invention a process for the manufacture of continuous ice characterized in that it comprises:

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(a) prepare a mixture of drinking water and at least one food additive (suitable for consumption), the drinking water being subjected to a pasteurization process, prior to or after the addition of the additive, at a temperature preferably between 71 and 89 ° C;

(b) then, once the mixture obtained in the previous stage has cooled to a preferred temperature of 0 ° C to -1 ° C (cooling that can be carried out in the same pasteurizing equipment), said mixture is introduced into at least a mold by means of a dosing process, preferably by volumetric filling with photocell control;

(c) said mold (or molds), once filled, are then led into a freezing tunnel, which will preferably be double stage, where a stream of cold air will be circulated at a preferred temperature between - 12 and -18 ° C. In this way, the mixture contained in the molds will be cooled to freeze in the form of ice, reaching a negative temperature preferably between -10 ° C and -12 ° C;

(d) finally, the formed ice is extracted from the molds. This demolding stage can be carried out by applying a stream of hot air (preferably at a temperature between 2 and 8 ° C) in an enclosure located next to the freezing tunnel. In this way, the formed ice (preferably as a cube), is released from the mold, being collected continuously for subsequent packaging.

One of the main advantages of the process described above is that it allows automatic and continuous manufacturing of high quality ice, suitable for human consumption, standard or customized with different shapes, sizes, smells, colors and / or flavors. Likewise, as a product of the process, ice is obtained with physical and organoleptic properties that make it new compared to other commercial products, with a quality far superior to them. In addition, its use in drinks or other products intended for consumption allows them to provide a particular ornamentation and eye-catching, personalized to the taste of the consumer.

Another advantage of the invention is that it allows you to work continuously, maintaining the quality of the product in all items over time. In this way, it is achieved that the product maintains a homogeneity in its shape and color, preventing breakage or defects in its final appearance.

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Additionally, since the ice obtained in the freezing tunnel is only in contact with air, it will not suffer any type of deterioration, except for a small drying that will favor the freezing speed. This drying results in a slight decrease in weight, usually not exceeding 2%.

The object of the invention is also the equipment for carrying out the process described above, characterized in that it comprises:

(a) at least one container for the storage of additives, where the additive (s) to be used in the ice manufacturing process will be located, which will be connected with at least one mixing equipment that will have at least one water flow inlet and at least one inlet for the additive (s) from the additive storage container described above. Said mixing equipment may have an agitator to facilitate homogenization of the mixture;

(b) a pasteurizer located next to the mixing equipment in order to pasteurize the mixture of water and additive (s);

(c) a freezing tunnel located next to the pasteurizer; Y

(d) a demoulding equipment located next to the freezing tunnel.

Finally, the ice manufactured by the claimed process is object of the invention, as well as its use, for example, to decorate drinks.

Brief description of the figure

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a particular embodiment of the claimed ice making process.

References

(1) Water flow;

(2) Container for storage of additives;

(3) Mixing or mixing equipment;

(4) Pasteurizer;

(5) Mold sanitizing equipment;

(6) Device for filling molds;

(7) Conveyor belt;

(8) Freezing tunnel;

(9) Molding equipment;

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(10) Packaging equipment.

Detailed description of the invention

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in addition to the process steps described above, it may also comprise a previous stage of water pretreatment, preferably by means of a microfiltration process, followed by an ozone purification step. Additionally, other water quality improvement processes such as pasteurization and / or treatment by magnetic devices may be used.

As for the mixing stage, this will preferably be carried out in a mixing or mixing equipment (3) under agitation. In this way, the mixer (3) will be fed with a water flow (1) (preferably previously treated), to which the additive or additives contained in the container for the storage of additives (2) will be added by means of a dosing system

In general, the additive used in the process will be selected from among the additives authorized for use in food, particularly for the preparation of refreshing beverages, such as dyes, sweeteners, flavor enhancers, etc. The proportion of the different additives in the mixture with water will be adequate to provide the ice product manufactured with the desired color, flavor and / or smell, so that when used it provides a special appearance and ornamentation to the drinks or products to the to accompany. In the case of standard ice fabrication, no type of additive will be added to the water.

Once a homogeneous mixture of water and additive (s) is obtained, it is taken to a pasteurizer (4) where it is subjected to a pasteurization process at a temperature preferably between 71 and 89 ° C.

Subsequently, the mixture of water and additive (s) is introduced into molds through the device for filling molds (6), which allows dosing the amount of mixture added to each of said molds.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the molds will be subjected to a previous stage of sanitation in an equipment for sanitizing molds (5), preferably by chemical treatment with bactericides, ultraviolet light and / or purification by

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ozone. Preferably, the molds will be made of polystyrene, which allows the process costs to be reduced by making their manufacturing cheaper.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the molds will be located on a conveyor belt (7), which will conduct them along a previously determined path. Preferably, the molds will be conveniently fixed on the conveyor belt (7) to maintain their bond during the closed and continuous cycle of movement thereof. The mission of said conveyor belt (7) will therefore be to drag the molds forcing them to carry out a fixed and defined path until the end of a cycle, which may be repeated continuously until the desired production is completed.

In order to control the freezing speed in the freezing tunnel (8) intended for this purpose, a control of the speed of the supplied cold air and / or the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant may be carried out. Also, you can act in the way of preparing and loading the product. In this way, depending on the capacity of the mold and its shape, the speed of entry to the freezing tunnel can be adjusted until a certain freezing speed is achieved.

Regarding the speed of the cold air supplied, the higher it is, the shorter the freezing time. However, considering that the energy consumption of the fans of the freezing tunnel (8) varies with the speed cube and the resistance to the passage of air with its square, there will be a reasonable limit. The normal values are 10 to 12 m / s, measured at the fan outlet, a value that can be reduced by half in the spaces on the product. Thus, depending on the separation between the molds and the number (greater or lesser) that is fed to the freezing tunnel, the time spent in the freezing tunnel may vary.

As for the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant, the lower said temperature, the faster the freezing, but again the economic cost will establish a limit. Typically, it is between -35 and -45 ° C.

Finally, an adequate route that prevents the formation of eddies and the recirculation of the air and that distributes its flow in a homogeneous way, will improve the final result obtained in the freezing tunnel (8).

After the demoulding stage of the formed ice that will take place in the demoulding equipment (9), the process may comprise an additional packaging stage that will be carried out in the packaging equipment (10), preferably in bags or other suitable containers for storage This stage will preferably be carried out by a counting system, avoiding the damage of the traditional packaging system.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages, it is worth highlighting the fact that the claimed process can be carried out without any risk of contamination, which is an advantage over other technologies available to date for the manufacture of ice.

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On the other hand, by allowing control of the water temperature, it is possible to avoid temperatures at which there is a greater risk of ice breakage. It is worth highlighting this advantage of the invention compared to other processes of the state of the art which, when using blades or other cutting devices during the manufacture of ice, carry a greater risk of breakage. Unlike these processes, the claimed method offers the possibility of manufacturing ice with a homogeneous shape and without breakage for the entire duration of the manufacturing process.

Additionally, it should be noted that the energy efficiency of the process is greater than that of 20 other methods of the state of the art, since no energy is lost in cooling the water previously heated in the process, as other methods require.

Finally, the possibility of unmolding continuously avoids contamination problems, which favors the hygienization of the process compared to other processes known for the manufacture of ice. Likewise, great flexibility is achieved, being able to modify the speed in the freezing tunnel depending on the size and shape of the ice manufactured.

Claims (12)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 1. Continuous ice manufacturing process characterized by comprising: (a) preparing a mixture of drinking water and at least one food additive, the drinking water being subjected to a pasteurization process before or after the addition of the food additive; (b) cooling the mixture obtained in the previous stage to a temperature of 0 ° C to -1 ° C, then being introduced into at least one mold by means of a dosing process; (c) said mold is then carried into a freezing tunnel, where the mixture is cooled to freezing in the form of ice; (d) finally, the ice obtained in the freezing tunnel is extracted from the mold. 2. Process according to revindication 1, characterized in that it comprises an additional stage for packing the ice removed from the mold in step (d). 3. Process according to revindication 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a previous additional stage of pretreatment of drinking water. 4. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the food additive is selected from a group consisting of colorants, sweeteners and flavor enhancers, as! Like any of your combinations. 5. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pasteurization process is carried out at a temperature between 71 and 89 ° C. 6. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mold is made of polystyrene and is subjected to a sanitizing stage prior to its use in the process. 7. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mold is driven to the freezing tunnel by means of a conveyor belt. 8. Ice obtained from a process according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. Use of ice according to revindication 8 to decorate drinks. 10. Equipment for carrying out the process according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: (a) at least one container for the storage of additives (2), which is 5 is connected to at least one mixing device (3) that has at least an inlet for said additive from the container for the storage of additives (2) and at least one water inlet; (b) a pasteurizer (4) located next to the mixing equipment (3) suitable for pasteurizing the mixture of water and additive; 10 (c) a freezing tunnel (8) next to the pasteurizer (4); Y (d) a demoulding equipment (9) located next to the freezing tunnel. 11. Equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that it additionally comprises a packaging equipment (10) located next to the equipment 15 demolding (9). 12. Equipment according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it additionally comprises a conveyor belt (7) which is introduced into the freezing tunnel (8). twenty