Batches (9a and 9b) pass in succession into a (pre) refrigeration machine. An actuator (17) in the chamber (1) of the machine is controlled by a logic controller (16) to insert a temperature sensor (18) into a product selected in the batch. Above batch (9a) in front of entrance door (6) of chamber (1), a preparatory module (27) explores the top surface of the area at the top of the batch located under sensor (18). An image analyzer selects a product into which sensor (18) will be inserted, and a future insertion point in the selected product. This data is transmitted to a memory to which logic controller (16) will refer to control actuator (17) when the batch is in chamber (1). Preferably, the data refer to a repository linked to the batch, for example provided by a corner of the box (3) containing the selected product.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and systems for cooling. Embodiments include a cooling system comprising a mobile container, conveyor system, and sensor feedback system. Container includes at least a first, second, and third section. First section holds at least one pallet containing produce. Second section includes a cooling mechanism to cool the produce within the at least one pallet to an optimal temperature. Third section includes the cooling mechanism to maintain the cooled produce in the at least one pallet at the optimal temperature. Conveyor system may be used to convey the at least one pallet across the cooling system. Sensor feedback system is configured to continuously measure and track at least the weight of the at least one pallet and temperature of the produce within the at least one pallet as the at least one pallet is conveyed across the cooling system.

A cooling channel is provided for cooling goods to be chilled, in particular food or pharmaceutical products. The cooling channel includes a cooling tower having an inlet end and an outlet end; a driven conveyor belt on which the goods to be chilled are arranged such that they can be conveyed through the cooling tower from the inlet end to the outlet end; a housing surrounding the conveyor belt and forming a cooling zone in the region of the conveyor belt; a filter unit for filtering air; a cooling unit for cooling the cooling zone; and at least one fan that interacts thermodynamically with the cooling unit and that conveys cooled air from the cooling unit to the cooling zone.

A contact drum freezer system includes a contact drum freezer, an endless product wrap belt and a cross feed conveyor. The contact drum freezer is mounted to revolve about an axis generally parallel to a main lane of transit. The endless product wrap belt has an intake shelf, an inner product-compressing run encircling most of the drum and an outer return run looping back to the intake shelf. The cross feed conveyor is situated in the main lane of transit and has a return run a and product-carrying run for transferring product laterally out of the main lane of transit and onto the intake shelf of the product wrap belt.

A contact drum freezer system includes a contact drum freezer, an endless product wrap belt and a cross feed conveyor. The contact drum freezer is mounted to revolve about an axis generally parallel to a main lane of transit. The endless product wrap belt has an intake shelf, an inner product-compressing run encircling most of the drum and an outer return run looping back to the intake shelf. The cross feed conveyor is situated in the main lane of transit and has a return run a and product-carrying run for transferring product laterally out of the main lane of transit and onto the intake shelf of the product wrap belt.

To provide a food freezing device, a food freezing method, and a frozen food with which an eating quality as before quickly frozen can be obtained even when foods such as cooked rice foods and noodles are quickly frozen.

A food freezing device 400 of the present invention includes: a freezing tank 410 that stores an ice slurry S in a state of being maintained at equal to or less than −10° C.; a hanger 431 that holds an α-starch-containing frozen food F in the ice slurry S stored in the freezing tank 410; an ice slurry supply means (420, 450, 456, and 300) for supplying the ice slurry into the freezing tank 410; and a flow means (130) for causing the ice slurry to flow such that the ice slurry S collides with the frozen food F at equal to or greater than a predetermined relative speed. The frozen food F is a cooked rice food such as nigiri sushi or noodles such as udon noodles that contain a large amount of α-starch.

To provide a food freezing device, a food freezing method, and a frozen food with which an eating quality as before quickly frozen can be obtained even when foods such as cooked rice foods and noodles are quickly frozen.

A food freezing device 400 of the present invention includes: a freezing tank 410 that stores an ice slurry S in a state of being maintained at equal to or less than −10° C.; a hanger 431 that holds an α-starch-containing frozen food F in the ice slurry S stored in the freezing tank 410; an ice slurry supply means (420, 450, 456, and 300) for supplying the ice slurry into the freezing tank 410; and a flow means (130) for causing the ice slurry to flow such that the ice slurry S collides with the frozen food F at equal to or greater than a predetermined relative speed. The frozen food F is a cooked rice food such as nigiri sushi or noodles such as udon noodles that contain a large amount of α-starch.

A processor of a sensor device receives a plurality of images capturing a scene that depicts at least a portion of a conveyer entering a treatment area of a food processing system. The processor processes one or more images, among the plurality of images, to detect one or more characteristics in the scene. Processing the one or more images includes detecting presence or absence of a product on the at least the portion of the conveyor depicted in the scene, and classifying the scene as having one or more characteristics among a predetermined set of characteristics. The sensor device provides characteristics information indicating the one or more characteristics detected in the scene to a controller. The characteristics information is to be used by the controller to control operation of one or both of the conveyor and the treatment area of the food processing system.

The efficiency of a device for cooling or heating objects on a belt that moves through a path of a helix, in which gaseous cooling or heating medium is circulated within the device, is improved by positioning fans that circulate the cooling or heating medium so that the fans are distanced from the top of the helix.

A system for cooling a product includes an enclosed environment having an outlet, an inlet, and a temperature in a first temperature range. An antechamber is at least partially surrounding the inlet of the enclosed environment and has a temperature in a second temperature range. A conveyor system includes a conveyor path extending between the inlet and the outlet of the enclosed environment and provides a spiral travel path. The temperature range of the enclosed environment is configured to cool the product before the product exits through the outlet of the enclosed environment.