Inventors:
John W. Strohbach - Cincinnati OH
Robert M. Williams - Cincinnati OH
Jeffrey D. Edwards - Cincinnati OH
Christopher B. Newcomer - Cincinnati OH
Assignee:
The Kroger Company - Cincinnati OH
International Classification:
A23G 920
Abstract:
A system and method for producing a soft food mix, such as soft ice cream, combined with a gas mixture such as a food grade fluorocarbon and nitrous oxide whereby the mix is injected into a saturation tower as atomized particles. A source of gases above atmospheric pressure is also connected to the tower so that the injected particles mix with the gas and fall to the bottom of the tower where they are removed and coupled to a conventional pressurized container filler. To improve consistency the saturated mix in the bottom of the tower is recirculated by a pump and injected against a barrier near the top to fall again through the pressurized gases. A pump controlled by sensors within the tower is connected between a mix tank and the tower to be controlled by the sensors to maintain a range of saturated mix in the tower with a heat exchanger removing any heat so added. A valve is disposed between the filler and tower and controlled by a further sensor to prevent draining the tower.