Method for blast freezing a product

Abstract

A method for freezing a commodity includes a plurality of boxes arranged in two rows with a space formed therebetween. A plenum is formed between the two rows of boxes with the plurality of boxes being positioned side-by-side. Air is pulled through and / or around the plurality of boxes and through ventilation holes in the boxes and / or through spacers positioned underneath adjacent boxes and along a length of the space formed between the two rows. The air may be discharged upwardly, horizontally or downwardly therefrom. In addition, the air may be forced through the plenum, along the length of the space formed between the two rows and through ventilation holes in the boxes and / or through spacers positioned underneath adjacent boxes for evenly freezing a commodity positioned in the boxes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 336,900, filed on Jan. 23, 2006, which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 645,027, filed on Jan. 21, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is directed to a method for blast freezing a commodity such as a food product.[0004]2. Description of Background Art[0005]It is common in the food industry to use a blast freezer to freeze various food products. Normally, a blast freezer requires the use of an expensive specially designed tunnel in which food products are positioned on pallets within the tunnel. The tunnel is a freezer that is maintained at a temperature of approximately −40° Fahrenheit (−40° Celsius). Air is blown or pushed onto the food products disposed in the tunnel to freeze the food products. However, as th...

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Benefits of technology

[0007]It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plurality of pallets of the commodity that are formed in two rows with a space formed therebetween. A cover is positioned over the space to form a plenum. An air handler is positioned to pull air from between the plurality of pallets and through the ventilation holes in the boxes stacked on the pallets and along the length of the space formed between the two rows for achieving an even flow of air for treating the commodity positioned on the pallets.

[0014]These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a method to freeze a commodity including providing a plurality of pallets of a commodity arranged in two rows having a predetermined length or height with a space formed therebetween. Providing ventilation spacers underneath at least adjacent boxes positioned on the pallets wherein ventilation is provided therebetween. Forming a plenum between said two rows of pallets wherein a flow of air is forced through the ventilation spacers disposed underneath the boxes on the pallets. Forcing air in a normal freezer temperature range of approximately 8 degrees F. to −20 degrees F. (−13.33 degrees C. to −28.88 degrees C.) along a length of the space formed between the two rows and through the ventilation spacer disposed underneath the boxes and discharging the air therefrom and providing an even flow of air to evenly force air along the length of the space formed between the two rows of pallets and through the ventilation spacers to evenly freeze a commodity positioned in the boxes on the pallets.

Problems solved by technology

Normally, a blast freezer requires the use of an expensive specially designed tunnel in which food products are positioned on pallets within the tunnel.

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