Apparatus and method for cooling temperature sensitive products

Abstract

An apparatus for cooling temperature sensitive products comprises an ice-making machine comprising at least one nozzle for discharging ice-slurry from the ice-making machine, and at least one conveyor configured to convey at least one temperature sensitive product to a location to receive ice-slurry discharged through the at least one nozzle such that the at least one temperature sensitive product is exposed to ice-slurry

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for cooling temperature sensitive products comprising:
 an ice-making machine comprising at least one nozzle for discharging ice-slurry from the ice-making machine; and   at least one conveyor configured to convey at least one temperature sensitive product to a location to receive ice-slurry discharged through the at least one nozzle such that the at least one temperature sensitive product is exposed to ice-slurry.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one container dimensioned to receive a predefined number of temperature sensitive products and ice-slurry. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined number of temperature sensitive products is between sixty and eighty. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one conveyor is configured to convey the at least one container to another location to receive the predefined number of temperature sensitive products, wherein the location to receive ice-slurry is downstream of the location to receive the predefined number of temperature sensitive products. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a conveyor conveying the predefined number of temperature sensitive products to the at least one container.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 at least one funnel positioned below a portion of the conveyor and above the at least one container, the at least one funnel directing the predefined number of temperature sensitive products released from the conveyor into the at least one container.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a vibration mechanism configured to cause the conveyor to vibrate. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one funnel positioned below the at least one nozzle, the at least one funnel directing ice-slurry discharged through the at least one nozzle towards the at least one temperature sensitive product.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature sensitive product is bird comprising an open cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a line conveyor conveying the at least one temperature sensitive product to a location adjacent to the at least one nozzle. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the at least one nozzle discharges ice-slurry into the open cavity of the bird. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the apparatus is located in a refrigerated environment. 
     
     
         13 . A method for cooling temperature sensitive products comprising:
 conveying at least one temperature sensitive product to a location to receive ice-slurry; and   discharging ice-slurry from at least one discharge nozzle thereby exposing the at least one temperature sensitive product to ice-slurry.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 prior to discharging ice-slurry, locating the at least one temperature sensitive product in a container.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the locating comprises:
 releasing the temperature sensitive product from another conveyor into the container.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 vibrating the conveyor using a vibration mechanism.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 monitoring a temperature of the at least one temperature sensitive product; and   discharging ice-slurry from at least a second discharge nozzle downstream of the at least one discharge nozzle if the temperature is above a threshold temperature.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 removing the at least one temperature sensitive product from the conveyor if the temperature is below or equal to the threshold temperature.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the ice-slurry is discharged into a cavity of the at least one temperature sensitive product. 
     
     
         20 . A method for cooling temperature sensitive products comprising:
 communicating a signal to operate a conveyor to convey at least one temperature sensitive product to a location to receive ice-slurry; and   communicating a signal to discharge ice-slurry from at least one discharge nozzle such that the at least one temperature sensitive product is exposed to ice-slurry.