Product cooling apparatuses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018150-A1
Application number	US-201514802339-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2015
Priority date	Jul 18, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Coolers for cooling pet food products and methods regarding same are presented. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a cooler comprising a chamber having product inlet, a product outlet and an air outlet, and at least one air duct having an exit opening so constructed and arranged for providing airflow into the product outlet.

First claim

1 . A cooler comprising:
a chamber having product inlet, a product outlet and an air outlet; and at least one air duct having an exit opening so constructed and arranged for providing airflow into the product outlet.

2 . The cooler of claim 1 , wherein air from the air duct provides the only airflow into the product outlet.

3 . The cooler of claim 1 further comprising at least one panel addition attached to the air duct for directing airflow from the exit opening of the air duct to the product outlet of the chamber.

4 . The cooler of claim 1 further comprising a conveyer positioned below the product outlet.

5 . The cooler of claim 4 further comprising at least one panel addition, wherein the panel addition is attached to the air duct and the conveyor, and wherein the panel addition and the conveyor form an air plenum for directing airflow from the air duct to the product outlet of the chamber.

6 . The cooler of claim 5 , wherein the air plenum is isolated from the external atmosphere.

7 . The cooler of claim 4 , wherein the conveyer is a type selected from the group consisting screw, drag, electromechanical vibrating and combinations thereof.

8 . The cooler of claim 1 , wherein the air duct is attached to the chamber.

9 . The cooler of claim 1 , wherein air flows in a direction from the exit opening of the air duct through the product outlet to the air outlet of the chamber.

10 . A cooler comprising:
a chamber having a plurality of walls, wherein lower portions of the walls of the chamber form a product outlet; a product inlet in the chamber; an air outlet in the chamber; and at least one air duct having an exit opening so constructed and arranged for providing airflow into the product outlet.

11 . The cooler of claim 10 further comprising a conveyer positioned below the product outlet.

12 . The cooler of claim 11 , wherein the air duct and the conveyor form an air plenum for directing airflow from the air duct to the product outlet of the chamber.

13 . The cooler of claim 10 , wherein the lower ends of the walls of the chamber form a product outlet in the shape of a rectangle having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width.

14 . The cooler of claim 13 , wherein the air duct is so constructed and arranged for providing airflow along the entire length and width of the product outlet into the product outlet.

15 . The cooler of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the lower portions of the walls angles inwardly to the product outlet.

16 . A pet food product cooler comprising;
a chamber comprising a product inlet, a product outlet and an air inlet; at least one air duct having an exit opening so constructed and arranged for providing airflow into the product outlet; and a conveyor positioned below the product outlet, wherein the air duct and the conveyor form an air plenum for directing airflow from the air duct to the product outlet of the chamber.

17 . The cooler of claim 16 , wherein the air plenum is isolated from the external atmosphere.

18 . A pet food product cooler comprising;
a chamber having a plurality of walls, wherein lower portions of the walls of the chamber form a product outlet, wherein two opposing lower portions of the walls of the chamber taper inwardly to the product outlet; a product inlet in the chamber; an air outlet in the chamber; at least one air duct having an exit opening so constructed and arranged for providing airflow into the product outlet; a conveyor positioned below the product outlet of the chamber; and at least one panel addition attached to the air duct for directing airflow from the exit opening of the air duct to the product outlet of the chamber, wherein air from the air duct provides the only airflow into the product outlet.

19 . The pet food product cooler of claim 18 , wherein the panel addition and the conveyor form an air plenum for directing airflow from the air duct to the product outlet of the chamber.

20 . A method for manufacturing a pet food product, the method comprising:
transferring the pet food product to a cooling chamber having a product inlet, a product outlet, an air outlet and a conveyor positioned below the product outlet, wherein the pet food product is deposited in the chamber through the product inlet and accumulates in the chamber and on the conveyor through the product outlet; providing airflow to the product outlet of the cooling chamber while the pet food product is settling on the conveyor, wherein the airflow travels through the pet food product exiting the product outlet and through the pet food product accumulated in the chamber; and removing the pet food product that has settled on the conveyor after the product has been sufficiently cooled.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Amsinger Daniel
• Schaaf John
• Cahoon William
• Orr Sam
• Okic Enes

Classifications

• B29C48/9135

  of flat articles, e.g. using specially adapted supporting means · CPC title

• F25D13/067 Primary

  with circulation of gaseous cooling fluid · CPC title

• F25D25/04

  by conveyors (in general B65G) · CPC title

• A23K50/42

  Dry feed · CPC title

• A23K40/25 Primary

  by extrusion · CPC title