Patent ID: 6769261
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: A01J

Abstract:
A method for controlling the cooling of small milk quantities (milk spots) entering, with time intervals, a cooling tank (4) having a first end wall (6), a second end wall (8) and at least a bottom wall portion (12) with a milk contacting cooling surface (14) within the tank being part of a cooling circuit of a cooling equipment (15), characterised by the following steps:a) providing an input means (20) which is arranged for inducing an intermittent milk flow of said small milk quantities across said milk cooling surface (14), b) reactivating the cooling equipment (15) upon occurrence of a milk flow, which by its own motion has a sufficient flow rate to prevent freezing of said small milk quantities for a corresponding magnitude of cooling power, and c) using said input means (20) for, after a sufficient amount of small milk quantities have been introduced to form a pool (40) of milk on the bottom of the tank, agitation of said pool of milk by means of the hydraulic input of the incoming milk.