System for producing form-molded items of edible ice

Abstract

A system for use in creating form-moulded items of edible ice from a mass of ice is provided, the system comprising mould boxes arranged in a circle, wherein a first opening is formed between two neighbouring mould boxes for extraction of one or more created items of edible ice from moulds formed between said two neighbouring mould boxes. An index control is arranged to move the first opening by performing an angular rotation of one of the mould boxes, so that it is moved into the first opening, thereby closing the same, while the neighbouring mould boxes with items of ice in the moulds there between are not moved. Thereby, a new opening for extraction of completed items of edible ice is formed. Thus, it is achieved that the mould boxes do not need to be movable with respect to each other during formation of the first opening.

1 . A system for use in creating form-moulded items of edible ice from a mass of ice, the system comprising:
 a number of mould boxes arranged to form a circle, wherein moulds for receiving the mass of ice are formed between neighbouring mould boxes, each of the mould boxes comprising an interior cavity for containing a fluid medium and an inlet stub and an outlet stub both connecting to the interior cavity,   supply means for supplying a fluid cooling medium to the inlet stub of each mould box,   discharge means for discharging the fluid cooling medium from the outlet stub of each mould box, and   extraction means for removing created items of edible ice,   wherein the mould boxes are arranged, so that a first opening is formed in the circle between two neighbouring mould boxes,   the system further comprising an index control arranged to perform an angular rotation about an axis of the circle between a first of the two neighbouring mould boxes with respect to an adjacent group of a plurality of neighbouring mould boxes for closing the first opening so that again a first opening is formed between the first mould box and the respective neighbouring mould box, which constitutes a part of the adjacent group, which first opening allows removal of one or more created items of edible ice from moulds formed between the two neighbouring mould boxes by means of the extraction means,   wherein the mould boxes of said group not being substantially displaced with respect to each other during angular rotation and, thus, not being displaced during formation of the first opening between the first mould box and the respective neighbouring mould box.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each mould box has a substantially similar angular extent in the circle. 
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein a magnitude of the angular rotation is substantially equal to a circular angle constituted by a mould box. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the number of mould boxes constitutes at the most one less than a number required to form a complete circle. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising a cleaning device arranged to remove any residues of items of edible ice, which have not been extracted by the extraction means, at least from opposite faces of the mould boxes between which an opening has been formed. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising feeding means for feeding material into one or more mould halves formed in opposite faces of mould boxes between which an opening has been formed. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mould boxes are arranged so that in addition to the first opening, a second opening is formed in the circle between two neighbouring mould boxes, and wherein the system comprises an index control arranged to perform an angular rotation about an axis of the circle between a first of the two mould boxes with respect to an adjacent group of one or more neighbouring mould boxes between the first opening and the second opening for closing the second opening, so that again a second opening is formed between the first mould box and the respective neighbouring mould box, which constitutes a part of the adjacent group, the mould boxes of said group not being substantially displaced during angular rotation and, thus, not being displaced during formation of the second opening between the first mould box and the respective neighbouring mould box. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein a magnitude of the angular rotation is substantially equal to a circular angle constituted by a mould box. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the number of mould boxes constitutes at the most two less than a number required to form a complete circle. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 7  further comprising a cleaning device arranged to remove any residues of items of edible ice, which have not been extracted by the extraction means, at least from opposite faces of the mould boxes between which the second opening has been formed. 
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 7  further comprising feeding means for feeding material into one or more mould halves formed in opposite faces of mould boxes between which the second opening has been formed. 
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply means and the discharge means comprises flexible connections for the inlet stubs and outlet stubs for each of the mould boxes, so that angular rotations are allowed between the mould boxes and a fixed part of the supply means and the discharge means. 
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said flexible connections allow an angular rotation between the mould boxes and a fixed part of the supply means and the discharge means of at least half of the circular angle constituted by the formed opening or openings together. 
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the mould boxes is arranged, so that a distal end of the mould box is allowed to be displaced in a radial direction with respect to an axis of the circle during operation of the system, and wherein the system comprises compression means for affecting each of the mould boxes with a force directed inwards, substantially towards the axis of the circle. 
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the compression means comprises individual means for each mould box. 
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply means further comprises means for selective supply of a hot fluid to the mould boxes. 
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the extraction means are arranged stationary, and wherein the index control further is arranged to perform an angular rotation of all the mould boxes. 
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein a magnitude of the angular rotation is substantially equal to a circular angle constituted by a mould box.