Batch freezer with cleaning system
A batch freezer for frozen food products comprises — a freezing cylinder, — a dasher designed to propel the product toward a discharge port of the cylinder, and — ma refrigeration unit arranged for cooling the cylinder, wherein the discharge port can be selectively connected to a cleaning pipe leading from the discharge port into the casing of the batch freezer.
1. A batch freezer for frozen food products, comprising
a freezing cylinder;
a dasher designed to propel a product toward a discharge port of the cylinder;
a refrigeration unit arranged for cooling the cylinder; and
the discharge port being selectively connected to a cleaning pipe leading from the discharge port into a casing of the batch freezer.
2. The batch freezer according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pipe comprises a first external section which externally connects the discharge port with a second, internal section located inside the casing of the batch freezer.
3. The batch freezer according to claim 2 , wherein the internal section comprises a siphon pipe.
4. The batch freezer according to claim 2 , wherein the first external section of the cleaning pipe has an open end which can be selectively tightly connected to the discharge port.
5. The batch freezer according to claim 2 , where the second, internal section of the cleaning pipe is fixedly mounted inside the casing of the batch freezer.
6. The batch freezer according to claim 2 , wherein the first, external section of the cleaning pipe can be rotated.
7. The batch freezer according to claim 1 , wherein a hot water inlet is located on top of the freezing cylinder in order to rinse the freezing cylinder with hot water.
8. The batch freezer according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pipe exits the casing of the batch freezer at its rear.
9. A system for producing frozen food products at a vending site, comprising:
a batch freezer comprising a freezing cylinder, a dasher designed to propel a product toward a discharge port of the cylinder, a refrigeration unit arranged for cooling the cylinder, and the discharge port being selectively connected to a cleaning pipe leading from the discharge port into a casing of the batch freezer; and
a package of a batch of a ready-to-freeze liquid ingredient mix for the frozen food product.
10. A method for operating a batch freezer, comprising the steps of:
providing a package of a batch of a ready-to-freeze liquid ingredient mix for a frozen food product;
filling the liquid ingredient mix from the package into a freezing cylinder of a batch freezer;
freezing the mix and discharging the frozen product from a discharge port of the freezing cylinder;
connecting the discharge port to a cleaning pipe of the batch freezer; and
cleaning the freezing cylinder by rinsing it with hot water which is then drained through the cleaning pipe.
11. The method according to claim 10 , comprising the step of operating a dasher of the batch freezer once the freezing cylinder is at least partially filled with water.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the freezing cylinder can be selectively connected to a hot water inlet.
13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the batch freezer identifies a supplied ingredient mix package.
14. A batch freezer comprising
a freezing cylinder;
a dasher so constructed and arranged to move a product toward a discharge port of the cylinder;
a refrigeration unit; and
the discharge port being connected to a cleaning pipe leading from the discharge port to a casing of the batch freezer.
15. A batch freezer for frozen food products, comprising
a freezing cylinder;
a dasher designed to propel a product toward a discharge port of the cylinder;
a refrigeration unit arranged for cooling the cylinder; and
the discharge port being selectively connected to a cleaning pipe leading from the discharge port into a casing of the batch freezer, wherein the cleaning pipe comprises a first external section that externally connects the discharge port with a second, internal section located inside the casing of the batch freezer, and wherein the first, external section of the cleaning pipe can be rotated between an essentially horizontal stand-by orientation and an orientation in which the first, external section can be connected to the discharge port of the batch freezer.
16. A batch freezer for frozen food products, comprising
a freezing cylinder;
a dasher designed to propel a product toward a discharge port of the cylinder;
a refrigeration unit arranged for cooling the cylinder; and
the discharge port being selectively connected to a cleaning pipe leading from the discharge port into a casing of the batch freezer, wherein the cleaning pipe comprises a first external section that externally connects the discharge port with a second, internal section located inside the casing of the batch freezer, and wherein the first section of the cleaning pipe is bent and designed to serve as a support when in a horizontal position.
17. The batch freezer according to claim 16 , wherein a grill is fixed to the bent first section of the cleaning pipe.
18. A system for producing frozen food products at a vending site, comprising:
a batch freezer comprising a freezing cylinder, a dasher designed to propel a product toward a discharge port of the cylinder, a refrigeration unit arranged for cooling the cylinder, and the discharge port being selectively connected to a cleaning pipe leading from the discharge port into a casing of the batch freezer, wherein the batch freezer comprises means for identifying a supplied ingredient mix package; and
a package of a batch of a ready-to-freeze liquid ingredient mix for the frozen food product.