COOLING PLATE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

Abstract

A cooling plate assembly includes at least one cooling plate which is mounted on a support. The areal extension of the at least one cooling plate protrudes freely away from the support such that the at least one cooling plate can be introduced into a hollow body and removed from the hollow body via an opening by moving the support.

Claims

1. A cooling plate assembly comprising at least one cooling plate which is mounted to a carrier, wherein the at least one cooling plate in respect of its area extent projects freely away from the carrier so that the at least one cooling plate can be introduced into a hollow body and can be removed from the hollow body by way of an opening by moving the carrier.

2. The cooling plate assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling plate has a substantially rectangular area.

3. The cooling plate assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling plate is supported exclusively at the edge.

4. The cooling plate assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are provided a plurality of cooling plates which are supported on the carrier and which overlap each other and are free relative to each other.

5. The cooling plate assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein the cooling plates are arranged substantially one above the other.

6. The cooling plate assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling plate is mounted moveably substantially perpendicularly to the surface extent of the cooling plates.

7. The cooling plate assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein there is provided a motion device, by which the at least one cooling plate is moveable substantially perpendicularly to the surface extent of the at least one cooling plate and which is preferably supported on the carrier.

8. The cooling plate assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein the motion device is in the form of a scissors lift.

9. The cooling plate assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling plate has temperature control passages or a temperature control medium and that there is provided an apparatus for cooling the temperature control medium and for pumping the temperature control medium through the temperature control passages.

10. A body arrangement for holding containers to be temperature-controlled for use with the cooling plate assembly as set forth in claim 1, the body arrangement comprising a hollow body having an opening, wherein provided in the hollow body are holding devices for spaced holding of the containers in the hollow body, which are so arranged that at least one cooling plate can be introduced and removed by way of the opening between the containers.

11. The body arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein the holding devices are in the form of projections in the hollow body for supporting the containers, wherein the containers are to be arranged in particular substantially one above the other.

12. The body arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein the projections are arranged parallel to an introduction direction for the containers.

13. The body arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein contacting between—preferably all—adjacent containers and cooling plates is possible by displacement—in particular lifting—of the at least one cooling plate—preferably together with the containers.

14. The body arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein the hollow body is made from a heat-insulating material.

15. The body arrangement as set forth in claim 10 further comprising containers which are arranged therein and which preferably have extensions for resting on the projections.

16. The body arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein in the hollow body is a free space for a motion device which is to be introduced and removed, in particular a scissors lift.

17. An assembly comprising: a cooling plate assembly including at least one cooling plate which is mounted to a carrier, wherein the at least one cooling plate in respect of its area extent projects freely away from the carrier so that the at least one cooling plate can be introduced into a hollow body and can be removed from the hollow body by way of an opening by moving the carrier, and a body arrangement for holding containers to be cooled, the body arrangement comprising a hollow body having an opening, wherein provided in the hollow body are holding devices for spaced holding of the containers in the hollow body, which are so arranged that at least one cooling plate can be introduced and removed by way of the opening between the containers.

18. A method of temperature control, in particular freezing and/or defrosting, of material in containers, in particular a liquid, the method comprising: holding the containers in a hollow body, then introducing at least one cooling plate between the containers into the hollow body, and temperature-controlling the containers together with liquid therein by the at least one cooling plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0039] Further advantages and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description in connection with the drawings, in which:

[0040] FIGS. 1a to 1c are various views of a cooling plate assembly according to the invention and the body arrangement according to the invention,

[0041] FIGS. 2a and 2b are various views of the body arrangement according to the invention in itself, and

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the arrangement according to the invention in the form of the cooling plate assembly and the body arrangement in the inserted state of the cooling plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] FIG. 1a (partially sectioned perspective view): cooling plates 2 of the cooling plate assembly 1 project freely away from the carrier 3, wherein the cooling plates 2 are so supported that they are accessible at three sides. The cooling plates 2 are respectively displaceable individually or all at the same time in parallel relationship in respect of height so that the spacing among the cooling plates 2 can be altered individually or all spacings jointly. The structure involves at least two cooling plates 2 which are displaceable parallel and in height, but in most cases it is to be assumed that between 5 and 10 cooling plates 2 are used. Those cooling plates transmit the cold or heat directly to the material to be frozen or defrosted. The cooling and heating power for the plate supply can come from a unit (apparatus 7) connected to the carriers 3. The apparatus 7 can be integrated into the carrier 3 or can be separate theon.

[0044] The cooling plates 2 can be made from aluminum, copper or preferably stainless steel. Energy transmission to the cooling plates 2 is effected by way of brine, glycol thinners or preferably silicone oil as the temperature control medium. The freezing temperature can be set down to −20° C., in most cases in practical use however the temperature is preferably between −50° C. and −80°.

[0045] The containers 8 are containers or housings as are disclosed in international application WO 2018/129576. In particular the (single use) bags lie in a tray (housing) which is equipped at the edge and in the hose region with a foam which accommodates the expansion in volume of the liquid in the freezing process and then hardens. In that way the filled-frozen-expanded bag is immobilized so that any movement in the frozen state is prevented. As movement of the plastic materials would lead to breakages that is advantageous.

[0046] The view in FIG. 1b corresponds to that in FIG. 1a but is a side view.

[0047] FIG. 1c shows an alternative structure for mounting the cooling plates 2 on the carrier 3.

[0048] FIG. 2a: the material to be frozen/defrosted is disposed in a body arrangement 10 of heat-insulating material, which has the hollow body 5. The body arrangement 10 can comprise foam material, plastics or fiber composite or composite materials. The function thereof is to give stability for the primary packaging (container 8), to permit robust logistics and to insulate the interior from external influences (UV, temperature, moisture, access and so forth). Disposed in that body arrangement 10 are a plurality of mutually superposed containers 8 which are to be frozen/defrosted. Those individual containers 8 lie on a respective projection and are displaceable individually upwardly. Those projections form the holding devices 9. After the force which displaces them upwardly is removed the individual containers automatically go back into the lower rest position under the force of gravity. The body arrangement is completely closed, is disposed on a load carrier, preferably a pallet, and has an opening 4 to introduce the cooling plates 2 and to convey liquid into and out of same. That is effected preferably but not exclusively with sterile connectors (for example CPC Colder ASQG).

[0049] FIG. 2b corresponds to FIG. 2a but is a front view of the body 5. The extensions 11 with which the containers 8 sit on the holding devices 9 in the form of projections can be clearly seen.

[0050] At the beginning of the freezing/defrosting process the cooling plates 2 are in their lower rest position. The containers 8 likewise in the body arrangement 10. The two units (cooling plate assembly 1, body arrangement 10) can be brought together manually but preferably in automated fashion (FIG. 3). That is made possible for example by the fact that the spacing of the individual containers 8 is greater than a plate thickness, that is to say there is in addition an extra spacing so that they can be brought together. It is then advantageous for the cooling plates 2 and containers 8 to be brought together and contacted so that efficient heat/cold transfer becomes possible. That occurs by virtue of the fact that the lowermost cooling plate is lifted. That is effected with a direct plate drive (motion drive 6), preferably with a specific application of force, preferably a scissors lift or a lifting device under the lowermost cooling plate. The cooling plates 2 and containers 8 are displaced upwardly until the uppermost container 8 exerts pressure on the uppermost cooling plate 2. That ensures that the arrangement has passed through the entire compression cascade and there is contact at every location between cooling plate 2 and container 8.

[0051] The end point of that process is a compressed packet of cooling plates 2 and containers 8. It is then frozen and/or defrosted, preferably in an automated procedure.

[0052] After that process the contacting operation can take place in reverse, then the containers 8 and the cooling plates 2 move downwardly again into the respective lower rest point and can be easily separated from each other, preferably in automated fashion. A preferably heat-insulating closure cover is then fitted on the body arrangement 10 over the opening 4 to protect the interior.

[0053] The cooling plates 2 and the containers 8 as well as the holding devices 9 and the extensions 11 are not always denoted by a reference numeral in the individual Figures in order not to impair clarity of the Figures.