Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ICE-MAKING APPARATUS AND RELATED METHOD
The present invention relates to apparatus and method for
making ice and, in particular, to such apparatus for forming
coloured ice.
Ice currently finds wide application in the beverage industry
primarily for cooling beverages, for example at the time of serving
to a customer.
However, the use of ice is generally limited merely to such
cooling purposes and it currently has no value with regard to
enhancing the aesthetic qualities of the beverage, or, for example,
providing verification of the quality/purity of the beverage.
Commercialised ice making machines are currently known for
producing large quantities of ice cubes that can be packaged and
sold to customers as required but the ice generated by such machines
likewise suffers the same limitations as noted above.
The present invention seeks to provide for ice-making
apparatus having advantages over known such apparatus.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an ice-making apparatus comprising water-delivery means, a
colouring station arranged to impart colour to water received from
the water delivery means and a freezing station for forming readily
separable blocks of ice from the coloured. water formed at the
colouring station and for selectively discharging the readily
separable blocks of ice into a storage means so as to present ice of
any required colour, or combination of colours.
The apparatus is advantageously modular in nature and can be
controlled so as to provide for an appropriate quantity of ice of
one colour, a mixture of colours, or separate colours.
The aforesaid control is advantageously achieved by way of a
microprocessor control unit.
Of course it will also be appreciated that all operations can
be controlled as required on a manual basis.
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Preferably, the colouring station comprises means for heating
a charge of water received from the said water delivery means and
means for introducing a natural substance from an additive storage
means and which is arranged to be infused within the water so as to
impart the required colouring.
Further, the apparatus can include a cooling station for
cooling the said infusion and, preferably, also filtering means for
filtering the said infusion so as to deliver a cool filtered
infusion to the said freezing station.
In particular, the said charge of water is heated to boiling
point and then allowed to cool to a temperature in the region of 90
degrees.
Preferably, the natural substance is introduced into the water
for a period in the region of at least five minutes.
The apparatus can advantageously include a purification unit
for purifying the water delivered thereto.
In particular, the apparatus can include a plurality of
additive chambers each of which can deliver its contents under
microprocessor control to one or more of a plurality of heating
chambers which, in turn, can deliver an infusion to one or more of
an array of freezing chambers likewise under microprocessor control.
If required, the apparatus can be arranged to produce ice of a
plurality of colours simultaneously.
Also, the freezing chambers may be arranged to form relatively
separable ice blocks of different shapes, which shapes can exhibit
characteristics related to the particular colours selected.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of forming blocks of ice of predetermined shaped
by means of open ended shaping elements, the method comprising
introducing water to form the said ice blocks into the said shaping
elements each of which is arranged to surround a freezing element,
freezing the water surrounded by the shaping element by means of the
freezing element located within the shaping element and subsequently
heating the shaping element and freezing element relative to the ice
so as to allow for the ice block shaped by the shaping element to be
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moved therefrom by way of the lower open end of the shaping element.
It should be appreciated that the method can also be employed
with shaping elements having an opening otherwise than at the bottom
thereof.
Preferably, the shaping elements are arranged to be located
within a chamber within which water is introduced so as to, at least
partially, submerge the shaping elements.
In such a manner, the level of water within the chamber can be
employed to determine the vertical dimension of the shaped ice
blocks.
Advantageously, the freezing elements are arranged to be
moveable reciprocally relative to the shaping elements so as to
introduce the freezing elements thereto, and remove them therefrom.
Alternatively, the freezing elements are permanently mounted
so as to be surrounded by the shaping elements.
Preferably, the heating of the shaping and freezing elements
relative to the ice is c~nducted so as to allow the shaped ice block
to fall through the lower open end of the shaping element.
The method can advantageously further employ the step of
draining excess water from the chamber subsequent to formation of
the shaped ice blocks within the shaping elements so that the above-
mentioned relative heating stages can allow for the shaped ice
blocks to drop to the lower regions of the chambers from which they
can be recovered and delivered to storage hoppers as required.
With regard to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided ice forming apparatus comprising open ended
shaping elements arranged for receiving water to be frozen, a
freezing element arranged to be received within the shaping element
so as to freeze water within the shaping element, and means for
heating the shaping element and freezing element relative to the ice
so as to allow the shaped ice block to be removed from a lower open
end of the shaping element.
Again, the ice forming apparatus can alternatively employ
shaping elements having an opening otherwise than at the bottom
therof .
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A plurality of open-ended shaping elements, and the respective
plurality of freezing elements can advantageously be provided.
The shaping elements are advantageously formed of an
appropriate polymer to allow for the definition of the shape of the
ice block being formed therein while serving to limit freezing of
the water located outside of the shaping element.
The said plurality of shaping elements are advantageously
joined so as to form a lattice of such elements.
The freezing elements are be arranged to be reciprocally
mounted so as to be located within, and removed from within, the
shaping elements as required.
Advantageously, the apparatus includes a shallow chamber
within which water can be introduced so as to least partially
submerge the shaping elements prior to freezing of the water
therein.
Such chamber advantageously includes drainage means for
draining excess water therefrom subsequent to the formation of the
shaped frozen blocks. yet further, the chamber can be adapted so as
to allow for the ready removal of shaped blocks that have been
released from the shaping elements by way of the lower open end.
Of course, it should be appreciated that the shape amendments
can be provided so as define a variety of different shaped ice
blocks.
The method of forming the shaped ice blocks and the apparatus
employed therefore can be employed within the' ice making apparatus
as defined hereinbefore.
The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of apparatus embodying the
present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates one form of freezing chamber for use in the
apparatus of Fig. 1 and °
Fig. 3 is a perspective, view of part of the apparatus of Fig.
2.
The modular nature of the apparatus can also allow for the
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provision of separate colour feeds to each freezing chamber module
serving to produce the ice blocks/cubes. The feeds can also be
directed to one or more chambers to produce multiple colour ice
blocks/cubes.
In the figure, there is illustrated a schematic block
diagram of ice making apparatus 10 which is arranged to deliver
coloured ice of one, a variety, or a combination of colours as
required.
The apparatus 10 includes a water inlet 12 which feeds into a
water purification unit 14 such that the ice of the apparatus is
formed from purified water.
The water, once purified, is delivered in the illustrated
embodiment to an array of heating chambers 16A-16E in which the
water is arranged to be heated to boiling point and then cooled to
in the region of 90 degrees.
Adjacent to the array of heating chambers 16A-16E is an array
of additive chambers 18A-18E each of which contains a natural
substance, such as a herbal, fruit and/or vegetable substance.
The array of heating chambers 18A-18E is arranged to be
reciprocally movable in the direction of arrows A such that the
content of any one of the chambers see additive chambers 18A-18E can
be delivered to any one or more of the array of heating chambers
16A-16E.
Once added to the water within one of the heating chambers
16A-16E, the additive serves to create an infusion upon the heating
of the water in accordance with a method which is outlined further
below.
Once the infusion has cooled to the required temperature, it
can be dispended into an array of freezing chambers 20A-20E which is
likewise reciprocally mounted in the direction of arrows B so that
the infusion of any one or more of the chambers 16A-16E can be
delivered to any one or more of the freezing chambers 20A-20E.
Each of the freezing chambers can be arranged so as to form
blocks of ice having different distinctive shapes, and which shapes
may be arranged to relate to the particular substance being added to
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the water from the additive chambers 18A-18E.
Once frozen within the array of freezing chambers, the ice is
then delivered by way of a delivery funnel 22 into one or, more
storage hoppers 24A-24D.
Again, the delivery funnel 22 is arranged to be reciprocally
mounted in the direction of arrow C such that the ice formed in any
one or more of the array of freezing chambers 20A-20E can be
delivered to any one or more of the storage hoppers 24A-24D.
Thus, as will be appreciated, in view of the reciprocal
mounting of the array of additive chambers, the array of freezing
chambers, and the deliver funnel 22, each of the storage hoppers
24A-24D can be provided with ice of all one colour, ice of different
colours, or ice of a combination of any required plurality of
colours. Also, the reciprocal mounting of the additive chambers
18A-18E allows for a plurality of additives to be introduced to any
one of the array of heating chambers 16A-16E so as to further ~rary
the colour of the ice box eventually formed.
The storage hoppers are advantageously transparent so that the
aesthetic qualities can be readily appreciated.
Of course, the relative positioning of the array of additive
chambers 18A-18E, the array of freezing chambers 20A-20E and the
delivery funnel 22 can advantageously be effected under
microprocessor control.
Turning now to Fig. 2, there is illustrated one example of a
freezing chamber 20 suitable for use within the apparatus
illustrated in Fig. 1.
The freezing chamber 20 includes a shallow water holding
chamber or tank 26 in which is located three shaping elements 28A,
288, 28C which are arranged to form three shaped ice blocks as to be
described further. The shaping elements are open ended in that they
are open at the top and bottom.
The shaping elements 28A, 28B and 28C are connected by way of
connection members 30 so as to form a lattice' structure of shaping
elements, which is illustrated further in the perspective view
offered by Fig. 3. Turning to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a
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respective plurality of three freezing elements 32A, 32B and 32C
arranged for insertion within the shaping elements 28A, 28B, 28C.
The freezing elements 32A, 32B, 32C are arranged to depend from a
laterally extending support arm 34 which itself is reciprocally
mounted for movement in the direction of arrows D.
In the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the lateral support arm
34 is illustrated in a raised position in which the freezing
elements 32A, 32B, 32C have been retracted from within the shaping
elements 28A, 28B, 28C respectively.
In order to form the required ice blocks, water is introduced
into the tank 26 to a level illustrated at 36 so that each of the
shaping elements 28A, 28B, 28C is just fully submerged.
The lateral support arm 34 is then lowered so as to introduce
each of the freezing elements 32A, 32B, 32C to within the shaping
elements 28A, 28B, 28C, and the freezing elements are then activated
so as to lower the temperature of the water within each of the
shaping elements, so as to eventually freeze the water therein which
then forms an ice block having a lateral periphery designed by the
shape of the shaping elements 28.
A timing arrangement (not shown) is arranged to allow for an
appropriate period of freezing of the water surrounded by the walls
of the shaping elements 28A, 288, 28C such that when it is
determined that the water within the shaping element 28A, 28B, 28C
has frozen, the freezing operation is halted.
At this stage, excess water remaining within the water tank 26
can be drained by way of drainage means (not shown) and the
apparatus then arranged for removal of the ice blocks from each of
the shaping elements.
In the illustrated example such removal is achieved by means
of the relative warminglheating of the shaping elements 28A, 28B,
28C and freezing elements 32A, 32B, 32C so as to allow for the
shaped ice blocks to fall through the lower opening of the shaping
element 28A, 28B, 28C.
The shaped ice blocks then effectively falling from the
shaping elements 28A, 28B, 28C and can be allowed to collect on the
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lower surface of the tank 26 and to be recovered therefrom as
required for delivery to the storage hoppers 24A-24D as illustrated
in Fig. 1.
The receptacle motion offered by means of the support arm 34
to the freezing elements 32A, 32B, 32C can be arranged to be
employed as part of the operation cycle of the apparatus or,
alternatively, can merely be employed so as to allow for maintenance
operations to be conducted. Thus, with regard to this latter
aspect, during repeated operation cycles, the freezing elements 32A,
32B, 32C can be arranged to be permanently located within the
shaping elements 28A, 28B, 28C and water introduced into the shaping
elements merely through the delivery of water into the water tank so
as to effectively submerge the shaping elements as required. Of
course, the freezing elements can be mounted in a stationary manner
relative to the shaping elements.
The shaping elements are advantageously formed from an
appropriate polymer and can be connected so as to provide a lattice
of any appropriate number of shaping elements which can be of the
same, or quite different but generally a aesthetically interesting,
shapes.
It should of course be appreciated that this aspect of the
invention is not restricted to the details of the above-mentioned
description since any appropriate plurality of shaping elements and
the respective number of freezing elements can be provided.
For example, one arrangement of the apparatus could be
provided with twenty separate freezing elements and the apparatus
could then further comprise a lattice of twenty shaping elements all
of the same shape, or of different shapes, or two separate lattices,
each containing ten shaping elements of the same, or different
shapes/dimensions.
Advantageously, through providing shaping elements which. are
open at the lower end, this allows for the shaped ice blocks to
effectively drop therefrom for onward delivery into an appropriate
form of storage means. This greatly enhances productivity.
One method of forming the ice blocks within apparatus
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embodying the invention is known from co-pending International
application PCT/GB2002/00402 and includes the steps of introducing a
herbal, and/or vegetable and/or fruit substance into a liquid, which
is at an elevated temperature, for a period of, for example, five
minutes, allowing the product of ethe infusion to cool, and then
freezing the cooled infused liquid into easily separable ice blocks.
Preferably, the liquid comprises water which is heated to
attain boiling point prior to the addition of the said substance.
Once cooled, preferably to room temperature, the infusion is then
filtered prior to use in the formation of the ice blocks.
As in that earlier application, the ice blocks, so formed, may
be used to make an instant drink by adding them to hot water, or
they may be used to cool a drink which has been prepared separately.
The ice blocks can advantageously be employed to impart
colouring to the liquid to which they are added as and when
required.
Alternatively, or in addition, the ice blocks can be employed
to impart fragrance to a beverage.
In one particular illustrative method, a mixture of herbal
substances is delivered from an additive chamber 18A and added to
pure water in the heating chamber 16A and is laoiled and cooled to a
temperature of 90°C, the infusion so produced laeing strained from
the chamber 16A and fed into ice-cube moulds within the freezing
chamber 20A, where it is frozen until being dispensed into the
storage hopper via the funnel 22.
Advantageously, the ratio of the infused product to liquid for
forming the ice blocks is 100m1 to 2.2 litres, although this ratio
is flexible dependent on the colour required or substance used.
Preferably, the step of filtration is conducted by means of a
cotton filter, and preferably a 100% cotton filter.
It will be understood that varieties of the substances may be
mixed in proportions which produce infusions of preferred colours
and/or fragrances and, if required, flavours and also health
benefits.
The temperature of the liquid in which the substances are
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infused may be adjusted to suit the substance in order to bring out
colours and, if necessary, the oils and flavours to the best
advantage.
In making the infusions it has been found beneficial to stir
the contents of the container gently at intervals during the process
of making the infusions. Accordingly, the apparatus can include
agitation means associated with the heating chambers 16A-16E.
It will be understood that, although particular arrangements,
illustrative of the invention, have been described by way of
example, variations and modifications thereof may be conceived as
well as other arrangements.
Advantageously, the ice blocks, with their infused filtered
content, provide means for colouring a drink in a particularly
creative and aesthetic manner. A variety of ice blocks can be
readily selected by a consumer for addition to a liquid in any order
and/or combination required so as to arrive at an attractive drink
or for any other ice-requirement, such as food-display with crushed
or flaked ice. Tmportantly, the ice blocks of the present invention
do not add any taste to the beverage whatsoever, although if
required some degree of taste can also be imparted.
However, the method of the invention may be employed using
other materials.
The range and intensity of the colours can be controlled
through manipulation of the filtration process and infusion time
employed.
Also, the colouring employed for the ice can be produced
remote from the apparatus such that an array of additive chambers
and an array of heating chambers are effectively replaced by a
colour injection unit arranged to introduce concentrated coloured
liquid formed for example in accordance with the method described
above directly into the purified water to be °frozen into the
required ice blocks.
