Background Art Generally, ice cream sold on the market is produced in factories in the form of bulk ice cream, or mass-produced in factories in the form of a bar or cone. Further, on the market one may obtain ice cream that is manufactured by instantly adding additives that impart flavor to crude ice cream. Furthermore, ice cream may be manufactured and dispensed through a small-sized ice cream vending machine. However, as such, when the ice cream is produced as a finished product in the factories, or the ice cream is manufactured by mixing the additives with the generic ice cream, or the ice cream is dispensed through the ice cream vending machine, it is impossible for consumers, such as curious children, to see a process of manufacturing ice cream. Further, conventional ice cream is manufactured in bulk and then is filled into a cone, or is piled in the shape of plate onto a wafer, and the like, or surrounds a bar serving as a handle.

Thus, only ice cream with a fixed shape is obtained. Further, the ice cream is not directly manufactured on the spot but is distributed after being manufactured in advance. Thus, the ice

cream is overly frozen so as not to melt during the distribution of the ice cream, so that the ice cream is excessively hardened.

Further, the kinds of additives that may be added to crude ice cream are limited due to the term of validity of the additives, and the conventional ice cream cannot satisfy consumers who are particular about foods and prefer fresh fruits.

In Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1996-33275 is disclosed'frozen confections and manufacturing method and apparatus thereof. According to the document, liquid chocolate is separately poured into molds which are supported in a large-sized refrigeration unit and are preliminarily cooled. Thereafter, surplus liquid chocolate is sucked at a center, thus forming cells with chocolate walls. However, such apparatus and method require the large-sized refrigeration unit and it is difficult to supply ice main to consumers instantly on the spot.

Further, Korean. M. Publication No. 1991-2473 discloses'instant slush maker'. According to the document, it is possible to easily manufacture several kinds of slush. However, the apparatus is used for manufacturing not ice cream but slush. Further, it is difficult to supply ice cream to consumers instantly on the spot.

Disclosure of the Invention Technical Problem Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method, capable of instantly making various shapes of single-serving ice cream, including a roll-shape, using a cooling plate, thus offering fresh ice cream to consumers.

Technical Solution In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing instant ice cream, including a cooling plate providing a flat mold to manufacture ice cream through a scraping method; a cooling pipe provided on a lower surface of the cooling plate and consisting of a linear or helical pipe through which refrigerant circulates to cool the cooling plate; a cooling unit having a fan, and feeding the refrigerant into the cooling pipe to manufacture the ice cream and ices; and a storage container installed at left side and/or right side of the cooling plate to store therein the ice cream and ices manufactured through the scraping method.

An advertising model structure is installed above the fan, and moves by wind generated from the fan, thus promoting sale of the ice cream.

The apparatus further includes a scraping unit having a semi-circular cross-section to manufacture the ice cream by scraping the ice cream on the cooling plate.

The apparatus further includes a storage tank pressurized with carbon dioxide or oxygen to discharge ingredients of the ice cream to the cooling plate.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing instant ice cream, including a cooling plate to provide a flat mold, a cooling pipe comprising a linear or helical pipe through which refrigerant circulates to cool the cooling plate, and a cooling unit having a fan and feeding the refrigerant into the cooling pipe. The apparatus further includes a scraper to scrape flat-surfaced ice cream manufactured on the cooling plate, thus providing the ice cream with a roll shape. The scraper includes a head to scrape the flat- surfaced ice cream manufactured on the cooling plate, and a handle. The head includes a head end coming into contact with a surface of the cooling plate to scrape the flat-surfaced ice cream,

and a curved part to roll the ice cream, which is separated and raised upwardly from the surface of the cooling plate by the head end, thus providing the roll-shaped ice cream.

Further, in order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing instant ice cream, including a cooling plate to provide a flat mold, a cooling pipe provided on a lower surface of the cooling plate and consisting of a linear or helical pipe through which refrigerant circulates to cool the cooling plate, and a cooling unit having a fan and feeding the refrigerant into the cooling pipe to manufacture the ice cream and ice cakes.

The apparatus further includes at least one narrow cell provided on the cooling plate to manufacture flat-surfaced ice cream, a scraper having a width which is equal to or narrower than a width of the narrow cell. The scraper includes a head to scrape the flat-surfaced ice cream manufactured on the cooling plate, and a handle. The head includes a head end coming into contact with a surface of the cooling plate having the narrow cell to scrape the flat-surfaced ice cream, and a curved part to roll the ice cream which is separated and raised upwardly from the surface of the cooling plate by the head end, thus providing a roll-shaped ice cream.

A contact angle of the head end of the scraper is within a range of 25 to 40°.

The curved part of the scraper has a radius of curvature within a range of 120 to 140°.

Further, in order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing instant ice cream using a roll-shaped ice cream manufacturing apparatus having a narrow cell provided on a cooling plate which has a shape of a flat plate and is cooled by refrigerant to manufacture the ice cream, and a scraper including a head end which is equal to or narrower than the narrow cell, in width, and a curved part, the method including a flat-surfaced ice cream manufacturing step of feeding ingredients into the narrow cell of the cooling plate cooled by a circulation of the refrigerant, thus manufacturing flat-surfaced ice cream; and a

shaping step of moving forward the scraper from an end of the flat-surfaced ice cream in a . lengthwise direction of the narrow cell, thus separating the flat-surfaced ice cream from the cooling plate, and rolling the flat-surfaced ice cream separated from the cooling plate by the curved part, thus shaping the ice cream into a roll-shape.

Advantageous Effects As described above, the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method of instant ice cream, capable of instantly making various shapes of single-serving ice cream, including a roll-shape, using a cooling plate, thus offering fresh ice cream to consumers.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

BriefDescxiption ofthe Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front view of an instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus having a storage tank and a cooling unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus to manufacture instant ice cream using a cooling plate, according to the present invention ;

FIG. 3 is a view to show a cooling pipe of the apparatus to manufacture the instant ice cream using the cooling plate, according to the present invention ; FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show a cooling plate of an instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which the apparatus manufactures instant ice cream with a roll-shape; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a scraper included in the instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 4, in which the scraper functions to make the instant ice cream with the roll- shape; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cooling plate of an instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus to make ice cream with a roll-shape, according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and FIG 7 is a side view of the instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 4.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, an instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a cooling plate 10 which provides a flat mold to manufacture ice cream through a scraping method; a cooling pipe 20 provided on a lower surface of the cooling plate 10, and consisting of a linear or helical pipe through which refrigerant circulates to cool the cooling plate 10 ; a cooling unit 30 feeding the refrigerant into the cooling pipe 20 to manufacture ice cream; a pair of storage containers 40 installed at left and right sides of the cooling plate 10 to store the ice cream manufactured through the scraping method; a storage

tank 80 to contain ingredients of the ice cream therein. This invention will be described herein with reference to the ice cream, but those skilled in the art will understand that all kinds of ices including soft ice cream are possible, without being limited to the ice cream.

Refrigerant drains 21 and 22 are provided at predetermined positions of the cooling pipe 20 on a lower surface of the cooling plate 10 so as to discharge the refrigerant to an outside. Further, refrigerant feeding pipes 25 and 26 are provided at predetermined positions of the cooling pipe 20 to feed the refrigerant into the cooling pipe 20, after a heat exchanging process is carried out between the refrigerant and the atmosphere in the cooling unit 30.

Water drains 23 and 24 are respectively provided on lower portions of the storage containers 40.

Thus, after the ice cream is sold out, a small amount of residual ice cream is melted out, and then is discharged through the water drains 23 and 24. Further, water that washes the storage containers 40 is discharged through the water drains 23 and 24 to the outside.

A fan 5 is mounted to a predetermined position of the cooling unit 30 to dissipate heat generated from the refrigerant. An advertising model structure 60 is installed above the fan 5, and moves by wind generated from the fan 5, thus promoting sale of the ice cream. The advertising model structure 60 is used together with sales assistants, in opening events or promotions.

Such an advertising model structure 60 may comprise a doll having a passage therein so that wind is discharged upwardly, and thereby, the doll is flapped by the wind of the fan 5.

Further, the advertising model structure 60 may comprise a small structure in which an advertising description is printed.

The storage tank 80 stores the ingredients of the ice cream therein. The ingredients of the ice cream are pressurized with carbon dioxide or oxygen to be jetted to the cooling plate 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, a scraping unit 70 having a shape of a scoop is provided at a side of the

cooling plate 10. When the ingredients of the ice cream are fed to the cooling plate 10 and ice crystals are formed on the cooling plate 10, a seller puts additives into the cooling plate 10, and then, mixes the ice crystals with the additives using the scraping unit 70, thus manufacturing the ice cream through a scraping method.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling pipe 20 has a helical shape, thus uniformly cooling the cooling plate 10 installed on the cooling pipe 20.

The process of manufacturing the ice cream, using the apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above is as follows. That is, the ingredients stored in the storage tank 80 are fed to the cooling plate 10. When the ice crystals are formed after a predetermined period, various kinds of additives that impart flavor put into the cooling plate 10.

Subsequently, the seller mixes the additives with the ice crystals, using the scraping unit 70.

At this time, the seller shows the process of manufacturing the ice cream through the scraping method to consumers. The finished ice cream is stored in the storage containers 40 and 41 which are provided at sides of the cooling plate 10, respectively.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a cooling plate 10 which provides a flat mold; a cooling pipe is provided on a lower portion of the cooling plate 10, and consisting of a linear or helical pipe through which refrigerant circulates to cool the cooling plate 10; a cooling unit that has a fan and feeds the refrigerant to the cooling pipe to manufacture ice cream. Further, the apparatus includes at least one narrow cell 11 which is provided on the cooling plate 10 to manufacture flat-surfaced ice cream 14, and a scraper 71 which is equal to or narrower than the narrow cell 11, in width. The scraper 71 includes a head 72 which scrapes the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 produced on the cooling plate 10, and a handle 75. The head 72 includes a head end 73 and a

curved part 74. The head end 73 comes into contact with a surface of the cooling plate 10 having the narrow cell 11 to scrape the flat-surfaced ice cream 14. The curved part 74 rolls the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 which is separated and raised upwardly from the surface of the cooling plate 10 by the head end 73.

The cooling plate 10 provides the flat mold, and is positioned to be in contact with the cooling pipe that is provided on the lower surface of the cooling plate 10 and comprises the linear or helical pipe through which the refrigerant circulates to cool the cooling plate 10. Thus, the ingredients fed to the cooling plate 10 are frozen and solidified by the refrigerant circulating in the cooling pipe. Therefore, the cooling plate 10 functions to manufacture the ice cream.

Meanwhile, the cooling pipe circulates the refrigerant used to manufacture the ice cream or ices.

The cooling pipe is coupled to the cooling unit having the fan, thus constituting the ice cream manufacturing apparatus to produce instant ice cream.

Particularly, according to the present invention, at least one narrow cell 11 is provided on the cooling plate 10 to manufacture the flat-surfaced ice cream 14. Further, the apparatus includes the scraper 71 that is equal to or narrower than the narrow cell 11, in width. The scraper 71 includes the head 72 which scrapes the flat-surface ice cream 14 produced on the cooling plate 10, and the handle 75. The head 72 includes the head end 73 and the curved part 74. The head end 73 comes into contact with a surface of the cooling plate 10 having the narrow cell 11, thus scraping the flat-surfaced ice cream 14. The curved part 74 rolls the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 which is separated and raised upwardly from the surface of the cooling plate 10 by the head end 73.

The narrow cell 11 is used to manufacture the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 having a relatively narrow width on the cooling plate 10. The width of the narrow cell 11 is proportional to a size

or volume of an end product, that is, ice cream with a roll-shape. The narrow cell 11 is formed by partitioning off a part of the cooling plate 10 with a partition wall 12. Thus, when the ingredients of the ice cream are fed to the narrow cell 11 which is partitioned from the cooling plate 10 to have a narrow and long shape, the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 is manufactured, according to the shape of the narrow cell 11, on the cooling plate 10 that is cooled by the refrigerant circulating through the cooling pipe which is in contact with the cooling plate 10.

When the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 is scraped by the scraper 71, the ice cream 14 is separated from the cooling plate 10 while being rolled by the curved part 74 of the scraper 71. Thus, the roll-shaped ice cream is completed. The scraper 71 includes the head 72 to scrape the flat- surfaced ice cream 14 produced on the cooling plate 10, and the handle 75. The head 72 includes the head end 73 and the curved part 74. The head end 73 is in contact with a surface of the cooling plate 10 having the narrow cell 11, thus scraping the flat-surfaced ice cream 14.

The curved part 74 rolls the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 which is separated and raised upwardly from the surface of the cooling plate 10 by the head end 73. Thus, when the head 72 of the scraper 71 is in contact with a bottom of the narrow cell 11, and then separates the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 produced in the narrow cell 11 from the bottom of the narrow cell 11, that is, the cooling plate 10, the ice cream 14 is separated and naturally raised upwardly from the cooling plate 10. Simultaneously, the ice cream 14 is rolled by the curved part 74 that is integrally provided right above the head end 73. Therefore, the roll-shaped instant ice cream can be easily manufactured by only moving the scraper 71 forward in the narrow cell 11.

As shown in FIG. 5, a contact angle a of the head end 73 of the scraper 71 is within a range of 25 to 40°. When the contact angle oc is less than 25°, the contact angle is small, so that the flat- surfaced ice cream 14 can be easily separated from the cooling plate 10. However, an edge of

the head end 73 is excessively thin, so that the scraper 71 may be easily damaged and durability of the scraper 71 may be deteriorated. Conversely, when the contact angle a of the head end 73 is greater than 40°, the contact angle is excessively large, so that it is difficult to separate the flat- surfaced ice cream 14 from the cooling plate 10. However, the contact angle a may be appropriately varied according to a material of the scraper 71, and the like and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various contact angles are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

The curved part 74 of the scraper 71 has a curvature radius of an angle (ß) within the range of 120 to 140°. When the curved part 74 has a curvature radius of an angle (p) less than 120°, the angle is small, so that interlayer gaps between ice cream layers can be small. However, the small angle prevents roll-shaped ice cream of enough volume from being produced.

Conversely, when the curved part 74 has a curvature radius of an angle greater than 140°, roll- shaped ice cream of enough volume can be obtained, but the interlayer gaps between the ice cream layers are too large to provide ice cream of a compact structure.

The narrow cell 11 is provided on the cooling plate 10 by partitioning the cooling plate 10 with at least one partition wall 12. The partition wall 12 is integrally provided on the cooling plate 10 so as to partition the cooling plate 10 into several narrow cells that produce the narrow flat- surfaced ice cream 14.

The cooling plate 10 is in separable contact with the cooling pipe, so that a desired one of several cooling plates having various widths is selectively used while being in contact with the cooling pipe. That is, the replacement of the cooling plate 10 is accomplished by the separable structure. While the cooling pipe coupled to the cooling unit to feed the refrigerant is fixed at a predetermined position, only the cooling plate 10 coming into contact with the cooling pipe can

be replaced with another one. Thus, it is possible to use the cooling plate 10 having the narrow cell 11 of various widths, as desired, thus allowing roll-shaped ice cream having various sizes to be offered to consumers on the spot.

The scraper 71 is slidably supported by the partition wall 12 which defines the narrow cell 11 on the cooling plate 10. Such a construction allows the scraper 71 to freely slide forward and backward in the narrow cell 11, thus allowing the flat-surfaced ice cream produced in the narrow cell 11 to be easily scraped by the scraper 71 while shaping the ice cream into the roll- shape, therefore instantly producing and providing the roll-shaped ice cream to the consumers.

In order to slidably support the scraper 71 by the partition wall 12, a groove is formed along an inner surface of each partition wall 12 to define the narrow cell 11, and a projection is provided at a predetermined portion of the head 72 of the scraper 71 to be fitted into the groove of the partition wall 12. Therefore, each projection of the head 72 is fitted into the groove of each partition wall 12 that defines the narrow cell 11, thus allowing the scraper 71 to slide forward and backward along each groove.

When the scraper 71 is supported by each partition wall 12 and is able to slide along the partition wall, the scraper 71 may be provided in conjunction with a drive unit, such as a hydraulic cylinder, thus being moved by a hydraulic pressure of the drive unit. The scraper 71 is automatically moved forward and backward in the narrow cell 11 by the drive unit, thus continuously and automatically producing the roll-shaped ice cream. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the hydraulic cylinder as the drive unit.

As shown in FIG. 6, the narrow cell 11 is formed on the cooling plate 10 by partitioning the cooling plate 10 by at least one detachable partition wall 15. In order that the detachable partition wall 15 is detachably fastened to the cooling plate 10, the detachable partition wall 15

includes a detachable body 17 having a plate shape, and support wings 16 which are provided on both ends of the detachable bodyl7, respectively, and a setscrew 18 passing through each support wing 16 so as to fasten the detachable partition wall 15 to a sidewall of the cooling plate 10. Such a detachable structure allows the position of the detachable partition wall 15 to be adjusted on the cooling plate 10, thus allowing roll-shaped ice cream with different sizes to be manufactured. The detachable partition wall 15 is detachably supported by the sidewalls of the cooling plate 10, and is secured to the sidewalls by fitting each sidewall into a gap between each support wing 16 and the detachable body 17, and tightening each setscrew 18 into the support wing 16 and the sidewall of the cooling plate 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus of this invention further includes a heat insulation cover 90. The heat insulation cover 90 is provided on the cooling plate 10 to retard the transfer of heat from the atmosphere, thus promoting the manufacture of ice cream. That is, the heat insulation cover 90 insulates the cooling plate 10 so that the ice cream is rapidly produced. The heat insulation cover 90 may be made of common synthetic resin to have a sufficient size to cover a whole upper surface of the cooling plate 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, the instant ice cream manufacturing apparatus of this invention further includes a protective cover 91. The protective cover 91 is positioned above the cooling plate 10 to be spaced apart from the cooling plate 10 by a predetermined distance, thus protecting a whole of the cooling plate 10. The protective cover 91 covers a predetermined space surrounding the cooling plate 10, thus preventing impurities, such as dust, from entering the cooling plate 10, and preventing consumers'hands from reaching the cooling plate 10, therefore ensuring safety and accomplishing good hygiene. In a similar manner to the heat insulation cover 90, the protective cover 91 may be made of common synthetic resin to have a

sufficient size to cover a whole of the cooling plate 10.

Mode for Invention The instant ice cream manufacturing method according to the present invention is executed, using the roll-shaped ice cream manufacturing apparatus having the narrow cell 11 provided on the cooling plate 10 which has a shape of a flat plate and is cooled by the refrigerant to manufacture the ice cream, and the scraper 71 including the head end 73 which is equal to or narrower than the narrow cell 11, in width, and the curved part 74. The method includes a flat-surfaced ice cream manufacturing step 1, and a shaping step 2. In the flat-surfaced ice cream manufacturing step 1, the ingredients are fed into the narrow cell 11 of the cooling plate 10 that is cooled by a circulation of the refrigerant, thus manufacturing the flat-surfaced ice cream. Thereafter, in the shaping step 2, the scraper 71 is moved from an end of the flat- surfaced ice cream manufactured in the step 1 in a lengthwise direction of the narrow cell 11, thus scraping the flat-surfaced ice cream from the cooling plate 10, and rolling the flat-surfaced ice cream separated from the cooling plate 10 by the curved part 74, thus shaping the ice cream into a roll-shape. In the flat-surfaced ice cream manufacturing step 1, the ingredients are fed into the narrow cell 11, and then the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 is manufactured on the narrow cell 11 of the cooling plate 10 that is cooled by the refrigerant. In this case, the size and shape of the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 is determined by the size and shape of the narrow cell 11 in which the ingredients of the ice cream are fed and frozen. Further, in the shaping step 2, the scraper 71 is moved from an end of the flat-surfaced ice cream manufactured in the step 1 in a lengthwise direction of the narrow cell 11, so that the ice cream is separated from the cooling plate 10, and simultaneously, is rolled by the curved part 74, thus shaping the ice cream into the roll-shape.

In a detailed description, the flat-surfaced ice cream 14 produced in the step 1 is separated from the cooling plate 10 by the head end 73 of the scraper 71, and is raised upward by the curved part 74 of the scraper 71, which is integrated with the head end 73, thus shaping the ice cream into the roll-shape.

Industrial As described above, the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method of instant ice cream, capable of instantly making various shapes of single-serving ice cream, including a roll-shape, using a cooling plate, thus offering fresh ice cream to consumers.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.