PROCESS FOR PREPARING REFRIGERATED PRODUCTS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a process for preparing refrigerated products, such as in particular ice-creams and the like.

Background Art

Nowadays apparatuses which allow to prepare and dispense refrigerated products of the type of ice-creams, water ices and the like are known.

Such known apparatuses are generally constituted by a tank suitable to contain the product to be prepared and dispensed, wherein a cooling device for cooling the product to the appropriated temperature and a mixing device for the continuous circulation of the product inside the tank are arranged. The circulation device, for example consisting of a screw member driven in rotation according to an axis longitudinal to the tank, is suitable to convey the cooled product towards a front zone, where a dispensing device for the product is placed. The dispensing device is provided with an obturator element which can be operated by means of an external lever member.

Known solutions do not completely satisfy the user's need of production completeness. In particular known apparatuses do not allow to produce milk-based ice-crams starting from basic ingredients.

Disclosure

The task of the present invention is that of solving the cited problems, devising a process which allows to perform in an optimal manner the preparing of refrigerated products, such as in particular milk-based ice-creams and the like.

Within such task, it is a further scope of the present invention that of providing a process which allows to easily control and vary the characteristics of the product to be dispensed. Another scope of the invention is that of providing a process which can be performed by means an apparatus of simple conception and a securely reliable functioning, versatile use, as well as a relatively economic cost.

The cited scopes are attained, according to the present invention, by the process for preparing refrigerated products according to claim 1 .

According to the present invention, the process for preparing refrigerated products provides to activate a pasteurization cycle of the milk introduced in the containment tank for the product, setting the value of ideal pasteurization temperature, through the inversion of the refrigerant cycle provided by the apparatus for preparing the refrigerated products. Preferably a permanence time is set at the above mentioned pasteurization temperature. Preferably, upon reaching the pasteurization temperature and the time of permanence at the pasteurization temperature, the inversion of the refrigerant cycle of the cooling device is again performed for cooling the pasteurized milk at a temperature ideal for adding the additional ingredients.

Description of Drawings

Details of the invention shall be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for preparing refrigerated products according to the invention, illustrated for indicative purposes in the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for preparing refrigerated products; figure 2 shows a correspondent section view according to a longitudinal median plane.

Best Mode

With particular reference to such figures, the apparatus for preparing refrigerated products, such as in particular milk-based ice-creams and the like is indicated in its entirety with 1 .

The apparatus 1 comprises a tank 2 for containing the product to be prepared, made preferably of transparent plastic material, as disclosed for example in patent application no. MO2009A000259 in the name of the Applicant. Inside the containment tank 2 a mixing device 3 is arranged, being made by a screw member driven in rotation according to an axis longitudinal to the tank 2 for performing the continuous circulation of the product inside the same tank 2 (see figure 2). Inside the tank 2 a cooling device 4 substantially made by a coil evaporator is arranged as well for cooling the product to the suitable temperature. A temperature sensor 5, arranged inside the tank 2 next to the front wall, is suitable to control the temperature of the product at the dispensing zone.

The containment tank 2 frontally has a dispensing device 20 provided with an obturator member 6 which can be operated through an external lever member 7.

The containment tank 2 is mounted above a base body of substantially prism-shaped profile. The base body 8 is suitable to contain in its inside the actuation members of the apparatus, known per se and not described in more detail.

At a front wall 9 of the base body 8 a touch screen 10 is suitably mounted, suitable for enabling the user to interact with a graphic interface for the control of the apparatus functions. The touch screen 10 is provided with digitizer means, which can be operated through fingers touching the surface of the same screen. In particular, the touch screen 10 is connected to a suitable electronic card for managing the functions of the different parts of the apparatus. Suitably the apparatus is provided with an USB port for connecting with means suitable to program or edit the programming of the electronic card.

The process for preparing refrigerated products, such as in particular milk-based icecreams and the like, is described hereafter.

After introducing a dosed quantity of milk into the tank 2, the pasteurization cycle of the milk is started. For this purpose the cooling device 4 is automatically activated, by inverting the usual refrigerant cycle of the same device 4. In particular, the ideal pasteurization temperature Tp and the permanence time at such pasteurization temperature Tp are set, together with the suitable rotation speed of the screw member 3. Usually the pasteurization temperature Tp is higher than 70 °C and is kept for a time of about 15 - 20 seconds.

The temperature sensor 5, arranged inside the tank 2 near the front wall, periodically checks the temperature of the product.

Upon reaching the above mentioned pasteurization temperature Tp and the permanence time at the pasteurization temperature Tp, the inversion of the refrigerant cycle for cooling the pasteurized milk is activated, setting the value of ideal temperature Tad for adding the additional ingredients of the frozen product, as well as the suitable rotation speed of the screw member 3.

The temperature sensor 5, arranged inside the tank 2, periodically checks the temperature of the product.

Upon reaching the addition temperature Tad, it is possible to add a dosed quantity of additional ingredients, needed for completing the ice-cream preparation. At this point the mix is ready for the normal step of ice-cream production. The cooling device 4 is then activated for cooling the product until the prefixed cooling temperature Tc.

When it is required, it is possible to dispense the ice-cream by performing the opening of the obturator member 6 of the dispensing device 20 through the lever member 7.

The process and the apparatus object of the invention attain the scope of performing in an optimal way the preparing of refrigerated products, such as in particular milk-based icecreams and the like.

Such a result is obtained substantially thanks to the inventive idea of initially heating the milk to the correct pasteurization temperature providing heat inside the tank through the evaporator of the cooling device, inverting the usual refrigerant cycle used for cooling the product; then the refrigerant cycle is again inverted for proceeding with the ice-cream preparing.

According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus used for the preparation of ice-cream is provided with a touch screen. The graphic interface of the touch screen enables the user to interact with the electronic control means of the different functions of the apparatus, such as the rotation speed of the screw member, the preparing temperature of the product, the single step times. In particular the touch screen enables to receive the signal that the cooling of the pasteurized milk at the ideal temperature for the addition of the provided products has been completed and that it is therefore possible to add such ingredients. Once such ingredients have been manually added, through the touch screen it is possible to enable the prosecution of the cooling of the mix until the accomplishment of the refrigerated product.

It is to be observed that the handy setting of the parameters which influence the preparing of the product allows to control in the most appropriate way the characteristics of the dispensed product, for example according to the variations of the external temperature. In this way the quality of the dispensed product is constantly assured.

Another characteristic of the apparatus is that of enabling to dispense a wide variety of products. As a matter of facts, the touch screen allows to choose among a great variety of characteristics, according to the settings of the electronic control means of the apparatus. In particular it is possible to set specific preparing cycles for different products to be dispensed, setting for each of them the most suitable cooling temperatures, for example the ideal temperature for adding the additional ingredients.

In practice, the embodiment of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and dimensions, may vary depending on the requirements.

Should the technical characteristics mentioned in each claim be followed by reference signs, such reference signs were included strictly with the aim of enhancing the understanding the claims and hence they shall not be deemed restrictive in any manner whatsoever on the scope of each element identified for exemplifying purposes by such reference signs.