A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING A SHAPED ICE CONFECTION PRODUCT

Abstract: A method for preparing a shaped ice confection product wherein a mixture of ice particles and a liquid, which mixture is pumpable under pressure but maintains its shape if unsupported, is introduced under pressure into a mould which is closed apart from venting openings. An apparatus for manufacturing shaped ice confection products comprising means for manufacturing an ice confection mixture comprising ice cristals and a liquid phase, a chamber(1) with pressurizing means (2) and a devisible mould (7) having heating means (15) and being closed, apart from venting openings.

Description: This invention relates to the production of ice confection products and in particular it relates to a method and an apparatus which are suited for the preparation of ice confection products in pieces of various chosen decorative shapes having complex relief features so that they could not be drawn out of a conventional ice confection mould. A number of processes for making ice confection products and in particular ice lollies in decorative shapes have been proposed, in particular involving the use of flexible moulds (GB-A-1 508 589), the use of shaped, profile inserts for rigid moulds of plain configuration (GB-A-2 097 907), the reshaping of plain blanks between pressure dies (GB-A-2 074 082) and the use of split mould parts which can be withdrawn in two directions to allow the production of complex relief shapes. One of the problems in most methods for the production of ice confectionery products arises from the need to abstract heat at an acceptable rate during the freezing step of the products in a mould, and in particular a mould of complex shape. In the pressure reforming method there is a need to provide relatively heavy-duty presses to provide the required rate of working of the already frozen ice pieces. Moreover the known methods are imposing severe limitations as regards the freedom of design of the final products. The invention relates particularly to a method of preparing an ice confection product, comprising shaping a partly frozen ice mixture and thereafter cooling ice confection for hardening it , as is described in US-A-3 128 193, wherein the shaping step is achieved by packaging in cartons and thereafter the shaped product is hardened while in said carton. The invention aims at modifying this method in such a manner so as to be able to produce products of any desired shape at an acceptable rate. The invention provides thereto such a method which is characterized in that a water-ice mixture comprising from 45 to 75% by weight of separate ice particles and continuous liquid phase in relative amounts such that it maintains its shape if unsupported is introduced under pressure into a mould cavity of a mould which is closed apart from venting openings, the pressure is released and thereafter the shaped product is removed from the mould and finally hardened. When proceeding this way no appreciable heat transfer is necessary between shaping the mixture in the mould cavity and demoulding the moulded product, enabling a short cycle time together with a short residence time. As a result only a limited number of moulds is required. The partly frozen water-ice mixture comprises preferably from 50 to 60% by weight of ice crystals. Preferably a divisible mould having a re-entrant and in particular a bulbous cavity shape is used. For easier removing the shaped product from the mould the latter is preferably heated at a temperature in excess of that of the ice mixture, or is having sintered, microporous cavity walls. In certain instances, such as if one stick is to be arranged such that both extremities are to protrude from the shaped ice confection or if the additional procedure of temporarily closing the stick inserting openings during filling the mould cavity is to be avoided, it is preferred that the stick is partly inserted into the mould cavity before the ice mixture is introduced. This method can be conveniently used for inserting a plurality of sticks at different positions into the mould cavity. Another possibility of the method of the invention is manufacturing ice confection beads on a flexible string by partly inserting a string into the mould. The invention also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing shaped confection products comprising a chamber with pressurizing means communicating with a divisible mould having temperature control means and being closed apart from venting openings. This type of apparatus is known from US-A-2 166 568 and is meant for shaping and wrapping articles of plastic materials such as candies and particularly lollipops. The material is heated for rendering it plastic enough to be filled into the mould. The mould is provided with a cooling jacket for abstracting sufficient heat from the mould and its contents to solidify the material. An eventual stick is inserted into the shaped product through a filling opening of the mould after removal of filling means. All this increases the cycle time and does not provide for a possibility to have one or more sticks or a rope to protrude at different positions from the product. For removing these shortcomings and for rendering the apparatus particularly suitable for manufacturing ice confection products the invention provides an apparatus as described which is characterized in that it also comprises means for manufacturing an ice confection mixture comprising ice crystals and a continuous liquid phase, with its delivery end being connected to the chamber and the mould being provided with heating means and a plurality of stick inserting openings at different positions of the mould cavity. For completeness sake it may be remarked that a divisible mould having a filling opening and an opening for inserting a rope is described in US-A-1 915 614. This mould may be used for shaping semi-plastic confection materials which are solid at normal temperatures. This document is silent about the precise conditions for filling the confection material but expressly states that the shaped article is permitted to cool, requiring additional time and, as stated before, thereby unduly increasing the cycle time. The part-frozen mixture may be made in a conventional ice making machine, such as comprising a scraped heat exchanger, which mixture is delivered to the above mentioned chamber. To that end the chamber may be connected to the ice making machine. This option provides a relatively high throughput. Alternatively the chamber and the pressurizing means from part an ice making machine comprising a scraped surface heat exchanger with a transport screw. The invention will by way of example be elucidated in the accompanying drawing and the appertaining description and an example of the method of the invention . Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus according to the invention in sectional view. Fig. 2 shows in a perspective view an embodiment of an opened mould for use in the method of the invention. In fig. 1a cylindrical chamber 1 accomodating a piston 2 as a pressurizing means is shown. Aside conduit 3 is meant for connecting the chamber to an ice making machine, such that it delivers a partly frozen ice mixture into the chamber 1. At the end 4 remote from the piston 2 the chamber is tapering and provided with coupling means 5, matching with the filling opening 6 in a divisible mould 7. The mould, as better shown in fig. 2, comprises a piston two mould halves 7A and 7B in each of which part of the mould cavity 8 is accomodated. The filling opening 6 is connected by a funnel shaped conduit 9 to the mould cavity 8, such that the narrow end of the conduit 9 opens into the mould cavity 8. The join between the mould halves 7A, 7B acts as a venting mould cavity. One of the mould halves 7A is provided with a stick inserting opening shaped as straight slot 10 for accomodating a stick 11. A plurality of such slots may be provided for accomodating more than one stick. If two slots are diametrically opposed one stick may extend with its both extremities from the mould cavity. If a string is to be used instead of the the inserting opening is to be adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the string. For suitably registering the mould halves one is provided with usual pins 12 matching with openings 13 in the other. For controlling the temperature of the mould 7 a circuit 14 is arranged in both mould halves 7A, 7B each having connecting means 15 for feeding a heating medium therethrough. This apparatus can be used as follows: a usual mixture for water ice, containing water, sucrose, locust bean gum and flavours, is frozen to a temperature of -5°C, in a scraped surface heat exchanger or votator and thereafter fed through the conduit 3 into the chamber 1. The slush obtained from the heat exhanger contains 50% ice particles and is pumpable through conduits but does not deform if left unsupported. Thereafter the piston 2 is energized and moved towards the tapering end 4 of the chamber, thereby pressurizing the ice mixture and expelling it through the coupling means 5 and the tapering conduit 9 into the mould cavity 8 of the closed mould 7. A usual stick 11 has been inserted into the slot 10, partly extending into the mould cavity. During the injection of the part-frozen ice mixture air from the mould cavity can be vented through the join between the mould halves. By circulating a warm liquid through the circuit 14 the mould cavity wall is kept at a temperature just over the melting point of the ice mixture. After filling the mould cavity 8 with ice mix under a pressure sufficient for transporting the part-frozen material, such as of at least about 2 bar, but preferably for increasing the production rate of about 25 bar, the pressure in the chamber 1 is released, the mould halves are separated and the product is withdrawn. After closing the mould and inserting a stick the apparatus is ready for a next moulding cycle. After removal of the shaped ice confection product from the mould it has to be hardened in order that it can be stored and shipped and to that end it can be conveyed through a cooling tunnel. For giving the product an immediate rigidity it may be sprayed with or dipped in liquid nitrogen.

Claims: A method for preparing an ice confection product, comprising shaping a partly frozen ice mixture and thereafter cooling the ice confection for hardening it, characterised in that a water-ice mixture comprising from 45 to 75% by weight of separate ice particles and a continuous liquid phase in relative amounts such that it maintains its shape if unsupported is introduced under pressure into a mould cavity (8) of a mould (7A, 7B) which is closed apart from venting openings, the pressure is released, the mould (7A, 7B) is heated at a temperature in excess of that of the ice mixture and thereafter the shaped product is removed from the mould cavity (8) and finally hardened. The method of claim 1, characterised in that the mixture comprises from 50 to 60% by weight of ice crystals. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a mould (7A, 7B) having a bulbous mould cavity (8) is used. The method of any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that at least one stick (11) or a string is partly inserted into the mould cavity (8) before the ice mixture is introduced. The method of claim 4, characterised in that the stick (8) or the string is inserted into the mould cavity (8) such that its extremities are extending at either side of said mould cavity (8). The method of claim 4, characterised in that a plurality of sticks (11) at different positions is inserted into the mould cavity (8). An apparatus for manufacturing shaped confection products comprising a chamber (1) with pressurising mean (2). communicating with a divisible mould (7A, 7B) which has temperature control means (14, 15) and is closed apart from venting openings and comprising a stick inserting opening (10), characterised in that the apparatus also comprises means for manufacturing an ice confection mixture of ice crystals and a continuous liquid phase, with its delivery end (3) being connected to the chamber (1) that the mould (7A, 7B) is provided with heating means (14, 15) and that there is a plurality of stick inserting openings (10) at different positions of the mould cavity (8).

Inventors: BINLEY, GARY NORMAN
Applicants: UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A23G9
IPC codes: A23G9