Patent ID: 6968712

Claim:
A flash freezer for use within a primary freezer having a refrigerated air compartment, the flash freezer comprising: a freezer cabinet formed by peripheral cabinet walls and defining an internal flash freeze compartment; the freezer cabinet being configured to be positioned within and exposed to refrigerated air within the refrigerated air compartment of the primary freezer; a plenum within the cabinet adjacent the flash freeze compartment and separated from the flash freeze compartment by a bulkhead; a plurality of first air passage apertures formed through the bulkhead to permit passage of air between the flash freeze compartment and the plenum; wherein one cabinet wall is disposed across the flash freeze compartment from the bulkhead; a plurality of second air passage apertures formed through the one cabinet wall; an air mover connected to the plenum and operable to move refrigerated air under pressure from the refrigerated air compartment, through the first and second air passage apertures, with said first and second air passage apertures acting to direct a generally uniform pressurized air flow through the flash freeze compartment; isolation plates slidably mounted on the freezer cabinet adjacent the first and second air passage apertures to selectively close the first and second air passage apertures and wherein the isolation plates include gate apertures that substantially match the first and second air passage apertures in size, spacing and number; wherein the isolation plates are movable into positions in which the gate apertures are in registration with the first and second air passage apertures to permit airflow through all the first and second air passage apertures, and to closed positions out of registration with the first and second air passage apertures to inhibit airflow through all of the first and second air passage apertures; and further comprising handles on the isolation plates projecting from the freezer cabinet to permit manual access to manually move the isolation plates.