Process and apparatus for moulding a frozen aerated product
Process for moulding a frozen aerated product including the step of filling a mould cavity with a frozen aerated product through a filling member; the mould cavity being a recess on a mould surface; the mould surface being at a temperature of below 0° C.; the filling member having an end part through which the ice cream is dispensed into the mould cavity; the end part being in contact with the mould surface; wherein the filling member includes a thermal insulation located at the end part of the filling member in contact with the mould surface; the thermal insulation being constituted by a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 2 W m−1 K−1; and the filling member being heated by a heating member upstream of the thermal insulation.
1. An apparatus for filling a mould cavity with a frozen aerated product, comprising a filling means;
the mould cavity being a recess on a mould surface;
the mould surface being at a temperature of below 0° C.;
the filling means having an end part through which the ice cream is dispensed into the mould cavity, the end part being in contact with the mould surface;
the filling means comprising:
a thermal insulation being located at the end part of the filling means in contact with the mould surface;
the thermal insulation being constituted by a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 2 W m−1 K−1,
heating means upstream of the thermal insulation.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the thermal conductivity is less than 0.5 W m−1 K−1.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the thermal insulation has a thickness comprised between 0.5 mm and 5 mm,.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the heating means comprises a channel through which a heating fluid is circulated.
5. A process for moulding a frozen aerated product comprising the step of filling a mould cavity with a frozen aerated product through a filling means;
the mould cavity being a recess on a mould surface;
the mould surface being at a temperature of below 0° C.;
the filling means having an end part through which the frozen aerated product is dispensed into the mould cavity;
the end part being in contact with the mould surface;
wherein the filling means comprises:
a thermal insulation being located at the end part of the filling means in contact with the mould surface;
the thermal insulation being constituted by a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 2 W m−1 K−1;
the filling means being heated by heating means upstream of the thermal insulation.
6. Process according to claim 5 wherein the thermal conductivity less than 0.5 W m−1 K−1.
7. Process according to claim 5 wherein an inside surface of the filling means is heated to a temperature below 40° C.